If you haven't played it, "It's just like Fallout" is not helpful.

When the lock interface comes up, you will move your mouse cursor around the lock face. This will change where the bobby pin is on the lock face. Using the A key, you put tension on the lock body to check if the bobby pin is in the sweet spot.If it is not, the lock will not turn all the way to 90 degrees, and damage your bobby pin. If you are trying to pick a lock too high above your picking level, you can break it and render it inoperable. You can try to force it, but there is a much bigger chance that you'll break it and render it inoperable.

Boy ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ Howdy, is it pixel perfect. The further away you move your mouse cursor, the more accurate you can get with your bobby pin placement. You'll have to have it pretty far away. I do NOT recommend picking anything other than the trunk of a car with a very easy lock and one that you've already hot wired.