Euro Cylinder locks can be vulnerable – but they are improving
Previous articles have discussed the popularity and history of the Euro Cylinder lock. In this article, we delve into the crucial matter of its security. Euro Cylinder locks can be vulnerable, and understanding these vulnerabilities is essential for your home’s safety. The principal vulnerabilities of the Euro Cylinder lock are lock picking and lock snapping. So, how vulnerable are Euro Cylinder locks?
Lock picking
The basic Euro Cylinder lock is vulnerable to lock-picking attacks. These attacks include lock bumping, which involves opening the lock by using a specially crafted bump key. Another technique for forcing open a Euro Cylinder lock without using a key is to use a snap gun. This tool can pick the lock without the need for a key.
There are measures in place to combat this. There are higher security Euro Cylinder locks that have been adapted to use specialised security pins. These pins catch in the lock cylinder if a snap gun or bump key is used. However, most Euro Cylinder locks don’t have specialised security pins.
What is lock snapping?
Lock snapping involves applying a solid torque force to the lock cylinder, usually with a pair of locking pliers; this breaks the mechanism and allows access to the latch.
Police in the UK have estimated that around 22 million doors nationwide could be at risk from lock snapping. It can take between 50 seconds and 2 minutes to snap the lock and gain entry. The lock can be snapped when it has a weakness where the retaining bolt passes through a thinner part of the lock.
Fortunately, there are effective measures that have been put in place to combat the vulnerabilities of the Euro Cylinder Lock. New safety measures, such as the British Standard cylinders that meet the TS007 3 standard, can significantly reduce the risk of lock snapping. In fact, they have been shown to reduce burglaries in implemented areas by up to 60%.
If you are in the Sheffield area and want to discover how vulnerable Euro Cylinder locks are, call Stephen on 0114 291 9273.