· By Rowan Hale · 1 min read
Euro cylinders and lock snapping
Most uPVC doors have a lock that can be snapped in seconds. How to check yours, and what to replace it with.
Look at the edge of your front door, where the key goes in. If the lock sticks out past the handle by more than a few millimetres, it can probably be snapped: gripped, broken at its weak middle, and turned with a screwdriver.
How to check
- It sticks out: a burglar has something to grip. The cylinder should sit flush with the handle, or 3 mm proud at most.
- No markings: look for a kitemark and “TS 007 3 star” or “SS312 Diamond” stamped on the face. No stamp usually means no protection.
What to fit
An anti-snap cylinder is designed to break at a sacrificial line and keep the lock itself working. It’s a thirty-minute job and costs less than most people think: see the lock change on our prices page.