What is Lock Snapping?
Lock snapping is a technique used by criminals on doors that have euro cylinder locks. Thieves will deploy this forceful technique to gain entry to your property, essentially exploiting a weakness by snapping the internal lock to make it easier to access the mechanism.
Euro lock cylinders are found on all types of doors, most commonly for homes with uPVC doors, though there are a variety of others, such as composite doors, that also feature them as the main lock. Fortunately, it is only the older, non-approved models that are at risk.
This month at Lock & Key Centre, we’re going to take a look at lock snapping in more detail, along with how you can prevent it and keep your home safe.
How common is lock snapping?
Lock snapping is believed to have started around the Yorkshire area, but the use of the technique eventually spread wider across the UK. As a method of forcing entry into your home, it has been on the decline since the introduction of newer lock models, with less than 10% of burglaries committed via this technique in 2019.
The method first became common because it does not require any skill to carry out and because of how many homes now feature euro cylinder locks in their doors.
How to prevent lock snapping
The best way to prevent lock snapping is by ensuring you have anti-snap locks fitted by an expert locksmith. We’ll cover what these are and how they work in our next two sections.
Other ways you can help to prevent lock snapping involve upgrading your other security measures to put potential thieves off. This can be simple things such as motion-triggered lights outside your doors or even CCTV cameras so that any thieves know they will be caught on camera. While not guaranteed to stop a thief, it can certainly help to make them think twice.
What are anti-snap locks?
Anti-snap locks are new euro cylinder locks that can now replace the old versions, something a professional locksmith can carry out for you. These locks must be SS312 diamond standard to be classified as anti-snap. This then means that if a criminal wishes to snap the lock, it won’t make it easy to access the main locking mechanism like before — more detail on this next!
How do anti-snap locks work?
Anti-snap locks are an improved design, with the euro cylinder lock set up as usual but with the subtle difference that they’re manufactured to only snap along a predetermined line, not directly in the middle. They are also strengthened with a pin to make them more difficult to snap in the first place.
Essentially, an anti-snap lock will be much harder for a criminal to snap if they attempt it, but if they do manage, it will only break in a way that keeps the internal mechanism still protected.
How do I know if I have anti-snap locks?
If you’re not sure whether you have anti-snap locks on your doors, you can check this in a couple of ways quite easily.
The first way to know if you have anti-snap locks is to check whether your lock is an SS312 Diamond-approved cylinder. This was launched in 2011 and you can check your lock type on the Sold Secure database to find out whether it is designed to this standard. You will, however, need to know the make and model of your euro cylinder lock as they are not all the same.
The second, and easier, way to spot anti-snap locks is via visual inspection. Check your door lock for the three-star kitemark logo to check whether it is tested to the right standard. This mark might be on the front or along the side of the cylinder.
Here at Lock & Key Centre, we keep up to date with all the latest security standards to help keep homes and businesses safe throughout Aylesbury, Milton Keynes and Buckinghamshire. We have decades of experience in dealing with euro lock cylinders and can professionally install new locks on your doors swiftly for peace of mind.
All our members of staff have been DBS-checked and we aim to respond swiftly with any locksmith services you require. Call us today for help in securing your home or business premises and our friendly team will be happy to assist.