Checking That You Have Anti Snap and Anti Bump Locks Could Save You From Getting Broken Into This Christmas

The way that we secure our homes has changed over the decades. Back in the 50’s and 60’s almost 100% of residential properties where using mortice locks and latch type (Yale) locks fitted to solid wooden doors and at the time these where considered very secure.

Very few residential homes had intruder/burglar alarms or CCTV cameras as these where typically reserved for shops, factories, service stations etc and the best the average working class homeowner could achieve in the way of a burglar alarm was a well trained dog who’s bark was ideal for putting would be burglars off.

A solid wooden door fitted with both a Latch and Mortice lock was indeed very secure and some people also fitted dead bolts which they would engage before heading off to bed, but when the window and door industry changed and moved onto uPVC products the type of locking system had to change too and the multi point locking system was invented.

 

What is a Multipoint locking system?

Multipoint locking systems are now found on most uPVC and the more modern composite doors as well as in French doors,  patio doors and even windows.

The multipoint locking system consists of a long strip of metal which bolts into both sides of the door and locks at multiple points along the frame both at the opening end and the hinged end in some instances, hence the name multipoint lock. A multipoint locking system is considered much more secure than  Mortice or Latch type locks which typically lock at a single point or a single side of the door and can be circumvented by applying force at the locking point and a well placed hard kick has been know to open a door that has a single locking point.

 

Do Multipoint Locking Systems Work

We have all seen front and back doors on residential properties that have numerous locks fitted to the side which can include a bolts or deadbolts, a security chain a mortice lock and latch, and whilst these may make you feel secure they do have a major defect, and that is that they all lock in one spot or on one side of the door.

Multipoint locking systems provide much better protection compared to regular deadbolts and latches due to multiple locking points which make using pressure or blunt force – such as a kick – to a single spot ineffective. However Multipoint locking systems are classically controlled by a single euro cylinder and if this euro cylinder is of a poor (cheap) quality or badly designed and/or fitted the door can be easily opened.

All an intruder needs is a poor quality, badly fitted cylinder that sticks out too much allowing them to snap it using a wrench or other gripping tool. Once snapped it can be removed and the burglar then simply needs to turn the mechanism using a custom made tool, usually made out of another cylinder. We won’t go into this tool here as we don’t want amateur thief’s picking up any tips.

Another popular method of circumventing the multipoint locking system is by using what’s known as a bump key, again we won’t go into the method in much detail but it involves using a special key to manipulate the spring-loaded pins inside the lock. Once these pins are correctly aligned, the cylinder will turn and the lock can be operated leaving no sign of a break-in which itself can cause problems when claiming off your contents insurance.

The security issue of lock snapping and lock bumping is a growing security concern so we advise anyone who is using a euro cylinder on their door to get the cylinder checked and if necessary replaced even if the door is new because anti-snap and anti-bump cylinders are NOT always fitted as standard

 

What is an Anti Snap cylinder?

Anti Snap cylinders or locks are designed to protect against lock snapping, stopping a thief from breaking the lock into two parts and circumventing your doors security,

They are typically made from high strength steal and also feature anti-snap lines so if enough force is applied the cylinder will break at a ‘safe’ point which will not allow the intruder to remove the entire cylinder and work the lock.

 

What is anti bump cylinder?

Anti-bump cylinders or locks generally having more pins than a standard cylinder and come with specially made keys. Cylinders that utilise rotating disks also protect against bumping.

 

How do I know if I have Anti Snap/Anti Bump cylinders?

It’s difficult for a non trained person to be able to tell whether their locks are Anti Snap and Anti Bump but when it come to the security or your family and belongings you can never be too careful and should contact an Ofqual qualified local locksmith to check your locks and replace if necessary.

 

Finding a Qualified Locksmith

There are 100’s of locksmiths in the UK, some qualified, some not qualified so we always recommend using an Ofqual qualified locksmith rather than a locksmith who has done a private 3 or 5 day locksmith training course (the type of crash course offered by rogue training centres)

Ofqual (The Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation) regulated locksmith training courses are currently the National Standard for the locksmith industry and the most advanced academic and vocational courses available to date, so be sure to look for the word Ofqual qualified when choosing locksmith so you can avoid the amateurs and handy men.

 

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