Since NPCs can interact with the world and can be ordered to do stuff including unlocking doors, can you order them to unlock chests?

Would be nice to know. If it is true, then I can get a rogue like NPC for the first levels to unlock stuff for me until I level my skills.

you could make NPC's do that in Oblivion, infact CM mod had that functionality...and I mean....Jauffre did it in Oblivion, so I'd be surprised if they couldnt in Skyrim.

if you mean COMPANIONS accepting orders to stuff like that, I dont think the Compaion system is anywhere near that.

I was thinking about this the other night. Be handy for a character who doesn't have lockpicking to bring along a companion who could. We can tell them to sneak and steal stuff so suppose it could be possible.

I saw that info on a loading screen in one of the playthrough videos in youtube. It said companions can be ordered to collect items, go to locations and unlock doors so I was wondering if they can also unlock chests to spare me spending lockpicking perks.