Reasons to Get Your Locks Changed
Lock Snapping
Lock Snapping is a technique used by burglars which involves breaking a specific kind of cylinder lock, allowing the intruder to quickly and easily gain admittance to the house. If the correct amount of force is applied to the cylinder, it will snap and provide easy access to the lock mechanism.
Lock Snapping has grown to become more widespread over the past several years as it requires no specialized hardware or expert knowledge, simply the force of a mallet, mole grips or anything else that can grab and take hold of a lock cylinder is sufficient to obtain entry. Many readily accessible videos online demonstrate the shocking force, speed and simplicity of the technique that intruders are utilising to get into houses throughout the country, with Hamilton no exception to this unsettling criminal trend. One online video which we have seen reveals how thieves can get access to a cylinder even if it isn't protruding from the handle. In cases like this the handle is shown literally being ripped from the door, the cylinder exposed and the locking mechanism compromised making use of household tools such as a mallet and screwdriver.
Other home security measures which are in place on your door including shoot-bolts, dead-bolts, roller keeps and anti lift bars are rendered useless because once the lock cylinder is broken and removed from your door the intruder can reach the locking mechanism with a screwdriver or similar tools. As soon as the locking mechanism is compromised your door will be unlocked and provide easy access, burglars have even been known to gain entry to houses with security alarms fitted employing this technique due to the speed of access. The majority of lock repairs can be completed by your Hamilton locksmith within the hour (depending on the degree of damage to the door. Doors and locks with significant damage may take a bit longer to repair).
A recent TV documentary revealed how a former burglar, without prior experience of snapping locks, could use this technique to get into to a house within 40 seconds, even he admitted how shocked he was at the simplicity and speed of gaining access, he said an experienced lock snapper would possibly gain access within fifteen seconds. Another ex- burglar admitted that even if he had the best lock picks in the country, he would rather break the lock cylinder because "it's simpler and much less difficult".
Police say it's approximated around 22 million doors throughout the country might be at risk from lock snapping where the lock cylinder can be broken in mere seconds. Your LockRite locksmith Hamilton is an expert in fitting anti-snap locks.
What Locks Are Susceptible
Locks which are in danger of lock snapping are Euro Cylinder profiles, and any locks which protrude beyond 3mm of the handle. The more the lock cylinder protrudes from the door the more prone to tampering it becomes as it is much easier to clasp and take hold of, but even if a lock cylinder doesn't protrude from the handle it still isn't resistant to tampering, something which our Hamilton locksmith understands only too well.
Euro Cylinders are normally installed in uPVC doors. Various kinds of Euro Cylinder include: The Single Cylinder, which gives key entry from one side only, The Double Cylinder which provides key entry from the front and back of the door and The Double Cylinder with Thumbturn that offers key entry from one side and employs a thumbturn on the other side of the door. The lock cylinders are available with various types of locking mechanisms, these could be disc tumbler, pin tumbler, and wafer tumbler locks. Cylinder Locks may be found in a variety of sizes and profiles to suit specific door sizes, but the profile vulnerable to lock snapping by thieves is referred to as the Euro Profile.
Anti-Snap Locks
Locks that are of a TS007 3 Star standard (better known as 'anti-snap' locks) are cylinders that meet the requirements to withstand lock snapping attacks.
Anti-Snap lock cylinders feature an integrated 'break-off' component that will come away if a burglar was to try to snap the lock, making the cylinder shorter, consequently making it more tricky to grasp. With the assistance of built in grip defenders it makes getting hold of the cylinder even more challenging. Moreover anti-snap locks have a toughened bar which will not break, it will only bend making snapping practically impossible.
Ensure your current locks do not over extend. If they appear to be vulnerable you may want to think about getting them changed by your LockRite Hamilton locksmith.
We can easily install anti-snap cylinders to your doors to protect you from this form of attack. Call us on 01698 678608 for a free, no obligation quote.
Lock Changes by LockRite Locksmiths Hamilton
We can fix damage to your doors and repair or change all locks which have been damaged during the course of a burglary.
Just bought a new home? Do you have any idea how many other people may have keys to your house? Often, home owners will unintentionally keep door keys or forget that they have another set when they move and purchase someplace new. Not only that but copies of the keys may have been made for relatives or friends to get in when the homeowners were on holiday. For your security and ease of mind your locksmith Hamilton can exchange the locks in your premises and ensure that you're the only person who has the new keys.