What Does Lock Snapping Look Like?

You may have been warned by the police or heard from neighbours about criminals breaking into homes using a technique called lock snapping.  This will likely have been followed by recommendations to get anti-snap locks.  But what does it look like when this has happened?  To begin with, it will only happen against those doors that use eurocylinder lock barrels (see here for more pictures and description of eurocylinder locks: https://www.craftlock.co.uk/lock-types ).  Examples of these doors are commonly uPVC or composite construction which use a complex and powerful 'multi-point lock' with a number of hooks, deadbolts, rollers and 'mushrooms' to prevent a forced opening of the door.  As you will know if you have one, it is turning the key in the barrel at the door's mid-point, that prevents the handle movement drawing back all these components.  When lock snapping occurs during a criminal attack, they have broken or attempted to break the barrel in order to get past the security provided by the key.  You will find that the outside part of your lock barrel is missing!  Usually, in most cases, the burglar has broken apart the outer half of the handle too in order to achieve this.  When calling an emergency locksmith Solihull residents should describe the situation carefully in response to the locksmith's questions.  In most situations of burglary or attempted burglary by lock snapping you would expect to require a new handle set and new barrel.  If you call insurance locksmiths to repair the damage they are likely to only restore security to the level it was before - they will not provide an independently tested 3-Star or Diamond Standard anti-snap lock.  At best you may get a base-level lock barrel with rudimentary anti-snap features, which are often sold as effective anti-snap products.  Unfortunately this is wrong, unless you have a 3-Star or Diamond Standard lock you can have NO expectation of safety against lock snapping - a burglar would get in again and again.

CraftLock Ltd has visited many homes devastated by lock snapping burglaries and for this reason the only level of security for lock barrels that we recommend is maximum security, as defined and tested by organisations that are independent of the lock manufacturers: The Door Hardware Federation and Sold-Secure .  Call CraftLock Ltd now to discuss what you need or email any time for advice: 07548989151  service@craftlock.co.uk

CraftLock Ltd is an Approved Company of The Master Locksmiths Association