Did you know that, according to the ONS, 73% of burglars gain entry through doors! One technique which can be used to gain entry through a door is called Lock Snapping. In this article we explain the ins and outs of locks snapping, along with the innovative cylinders which have been developed specifically to overcome this intrusion method.
What Is Lock Snapping?
In order to understand how lock snapping works, you first need to understand how a basic euro cylinder is made. There are three sections to a euro cylinder, the locking mechanism which has cylinder sections at either side. As the locking mechanism is required to turn this creates a weaker point in your door.
The lock snapping technique takes advantage of this weak point, by applying pressure to the cylinder, it can be snapped at the locking mechanism joint, exposing the actual locking mechanism which can then easily be bypassed.
This is a quick and easy intrusion method, which has led to it being a popular method. Luckily the anti snap cylinder has been developed to overcome this issue.
How Anti Snap Door Cylinders Work
The name may sound as though they’ve developed a system in which the lock is harder to snap, but it’s actually the opposite. Rather than stopping the lock from snapping they’ve changed the place in which the lock snaps instead by adding a sacrificial snap line.
This means that instead of snapping at the usual weak point, the lock actually snaps further up the cylinder, ensuring that the locking mechanism stays hidden and out of reach of the intruder.
Considerations When Buying Anti Snap Door Cylinders
When buying a new lock cylinder there’s more than just the anti snap features that you want to consider and you should also look at other security factors. This will ensure that your lock is as secure as possible against all types of forced entry, not just lock snapping. The main thing to look at is which British Standards are met by the cylinder.
It’s also important that you understand the size you require by taking the correct measurements. The correct size is required to ensure that your cylinder sits in your door correctly. When buying a anti lock cylinder you also need to make sure that the anti snap line is on the correct side, towards the external side of the door.