Why were warded locks relatively easy for lock pickers to open?

Warded locks were relatively easy to pick because their security relied entirely on wards—projections inside the lock designed to obstruct any key that lacked corresponding slots.12

Because these projections were static, it was not difficult for a lock picker to create an instrument capable of bypassing or clearing the wards, regardless of how complex the internal design was. While locksmiths often used great ingenuity to create intricate ward patterns, the fundamental mechanism of the lock remained limited. Consequently, an intruder could simply use a skeleton key or a specially shaped tool designed to avoid the obstructions, rendering the lock's security ineffective.12