How Common is Lock Snapping?

While lock-snapping isn’t quite as common as it once was - largely thanks to the introduction of newer, snap-resistant locks - according to police services across the country lock snapping is still a common way for intruders to enter the home.

Why is Lock Snapping Still Common?

So why is lock-snapping still such an attractive method of entry for would-be intruders? Lock Snapping is Fast When you’re trying to break into the front (or rear) of a house, every second counts. The longer a burglar spends commiting a crime in full view of the street, the greater the likelihood they’ll be seen. Lock-snapping takes just a few seconds. Lock Snapping is Easy Another advantage of lock-snapping is that it requires no special training. You don’t have to spend hundreds of hours threading needles through practice-locks - all you need is a suitable tool and a little bit of brute-force. Lock Snapping is Discrete Compared with other methods of entry, like smashing in a window, lock-snapping is discrete. It won’t create much noise, or force the burglar to clamber through an awkward opening. It also doesn’t leave much in the way of forensic evidence, since clothes fibres won’t get snagged on jagged wood and glass.

Is Your Door Lock at Risk of Being Snapped?

The euro cylinder is currently the most popular style of lock in the UK. It’s easy to tell whether you have one - from the outside it looks like a little metal circle, with a long section protruding from the bottom. It’s usually a single assembly with the handle. Note that cylinder locks are also used in nightlatch-style locks, but these aren’t usually vulnerable to lock snapping, as they offer little for the burglar to grip onto. If you have a uPVC door, the chances are high that it’s equipped with a euro cylinder style lock. This is because it’s difficult to fit any other sort of lock into the material. uPVC can’t easily be drilled into or otherwise modified after it’s left the factory. Unfortunately this makes life pretty easy for burglars, who can see at a distance which locks they will or will not be able to snap. However uPVC doors aren’t the only type of door to be fitted with euro cylinders. Some timber and aluminium doors also come equipped with this style of lock – specifically those found on older patio doors.

What is Lock Snapping and How Can You Prevent it? (Security Tips)

Lock snapping: Every front door’s worst nightmare. Evil criminals everywhere have convened to share the dark knowledge of lock snapping. Using tools like angle grinders, power-saws and spanners to break the hallowed boundary between home and world. On this page, we aim to arm you with the information needed to understand exactly what lock snapping is and how you can prevent it on your door. A drawing of a cylinder lock snapped in half.

A drawing of a cylinder lock snapped in half.

What is Lock Snapping?

Lock snapping is typically done on euro-cylinder locks. These are installed with the backplate and the handle on the door. One of the biggest advantages of a euro-cylinder is that it’s easy to replace. Changing the locks is a simple matter of sliding one lock out, and another one in. But this upside comes with a downside – it makes it easier for burglars to damage the lock, and slide the front half of it out – i.e. to snap the lock. Often what happens is a burglar will use a tool to pull the door handle backplate off the door, exposing the cylinder lock. They can then use a tool to ‘snap’ the front part of the lock out of the door, making it easy to twist the lock open with a screw driver. A drawing of a cylinder lock on a door handle plate.

A drawing of a cylinder lock on a door handle plate.

It’s easy to tell whether you have a cylinder lock – from the outside it looks like a little metal circle, with a long section protruding from the bottom. They’re often fitted on uPVC doors but can also be found on timber and aluminium doors.

Our uPVC doors upgrade their security with mulit-point locking systems

How to Prevent Lock Snapping

Snap-resistant locks work in several ways. One is to simply use better materials. A manufacturer might also design the front of the lock to snap off in a separate piece, leaving the internal mechanisms of the door concealed. You may also have a multi-point locking system to ensure that the door locks in multiple places, not just at the cylinder.

Choose The Right Cylinder Lock

Worried about euro cylinder security? There are a few things to look out for to ensure your lock is snap-proof. The TS007 kite-mark: The first is the TS007 kite-mark, which usually sits next to the face of the cylinder and looks a little bit like a love-heart or an ice-cream-cone. It might be accompanied by one or more stars, which indicate quality. A three-star lock has been tested against snapping; a one-star lock has not. Diamond-rated cylinders: There’s another standard ensuring resistance to intruders – the SS312 diamond standard. This was launched in 2010 to deal with an epidemic of lock-snapping. The SS stands for ‘Sold Secure’, and it’ll be accompanied by an image of a diamond on the lock itself.

Ensure the Lock is Installed Correctly

Even the best-designed lock is vulnerable to snapping if it’s not installed properly. If the lock protrudes more than a few millimetres from the surface of the door, a would-be thief will have the opportunity to grasp it with a wrench. They’ll then have the leverage they need to force the lock apart. If you’re in the market for a uPVC door, ensure that you buy one with a multi-point locking system (Like our uPVC French Doors) or a lock alternative to a euro cylinder.

Look for Part Q Compliant Doors

A Part Q–compliant door refers to a door that meets Part Q of the UK Building Regulations, which is specifically about security of dwellings. These doors have locking systems that are designed to resist common burglary methods - including lock snapping, drilling, and picking. You’ll typically see a Part Q compliant door advertised as PAS 24:2016 (or later) or as STS 201. Aspire Doors offers England’s first range of part Q compliant solid oak bifold doors.

Choose the Right Hardware

In addition to the lock, you should consider the door’s other hardware – especially the handle. Some handles are also kite-marked, or star-rated. If you want to treat security seriously, then fitting a three-star handle will give you close to the best possible security. For much the same reason, the police tend to recommend installing multiple locks onto the same door. That way if one of them is compromised, you have other locks as back ups. For best results, consider installing a night-latch as well.

Back to all articles

What is Lock Snapping and How Can You Prevent it?

What is Lock Snapping?

How to Prevent Lock Snapping

Choose The Right Cylinder Lock

Ensure the Lock is Installed Correctly

Look for Part Q Compliant Doors

Choose the Right Hardware

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Call our team

Visit our Essex showroom!

Send us an email

What is Lock Snapping and How Can You Prevent it?

What is Lock Snapping?

How to Prevent Lock Snapping

Choose The Right Cylinder Lock

Ensure the Lock is Installed Correctly

Look for Part Q Compliant Doors

Choose the Right Hardware

You might also be interested in

Biophilic Futurism: Popular Buildings Reimagined (Covered in Plants)

What are Edwardian Doors?

The Unusual First Products of Famous Household Brands

Door Hardware Trends for 2022

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