Anti-Snap Locks Fitted by Midlands Locksmiths

Your door might have hooks, bolts and a multipoint locking system, but if the cylinder is easy to attack, that can still leave your home vulnerable. Anti-snap locks are designed to protect one of the areas burglars commonly target when trying to force their way through a door.

From the burglary jobs we attend, we estimate that lock snapping is involved in around 75% of cases. It is something we regularly come across in Coventry, Leicester and across the West Midlands.

Midlands Locksmiths can check the lock currently fitted to your door, explain what level of protection it offers and fit a correctly sized anti-snap cylinder if an upgrade is needed.

What Are Anti-Snap Door Locks?

Many uPVC and composite doors use a euro cylinder lock alongside a multipoint locking mechanism. Turning the key operates the cylinder, which then allows the rest of the door mechanism to work.

The problem is that a basic or poorly protected euro cylinder can sometimes be attacked from outside the door.

Lock snapping involves applying force to the exposed section of the cylinder until part of it breaks. If the important parts of the internal mechanism are then exposed, a burglar may be able to operate the lock and gain entry.

Anti-snap door locks are designed differently. Depending on the manufacturer, they can use reinforced components, controlled snap points and protected internal sections so that attacking the outside of the cylinder does not give direct access to the locking mechanism.

Good high-security cylinders may also provide anti-pick, anti-bump and anti-drill resistance.

How Does an Anti-Snap Cylinder Lock Work?

An anti-snap cylinder lock is designed to keep the secure part of the cylinder protected if someone attacks its exposed end.

Some anti-snap lock cylinders use sacrificial sections that are intended to break at a controlled point. Others use reinforced cores and additional internal protection. The aim is the same: to prevent lock snapping from exposing the section that operates the door.

The security rating is important.

A TS007 3-star cylinder is designed to provide a high level of protection against cylinder attacks on its own. Another recognised setup can use a TS007 1-star cylinder alongside appropriate 2-star security handles or door furniture.

You can check independently tested cylinders through the Sold Secure approved product listings.

How Can You Tell If Your Current Lock Is Anti-Snap?

Start by looking at the end of the cylinder where you insert the key. You may see a British Kitemark, star rating or manufacturer markings.

As a quick check, look for:

Cylinder size matters too. Euro cylinders are made in different and multiple sizes to suit different doors. If too much of the cylinder is exposed beyond the handles, it can provide thieves with more material to attack.

We measure the existing cylinder and door before fitting a replacement so that the correct size is installed.

Not sure what the markings on your lock mean? Give Midlands Locksmiths a call and we can help you work out what is currently fitted and whether an upgrade is worthwhile.

Which Anti-Snap Locks Do Midlands Locksmiths Fit?

We are an independent locksmith company, so we are not tied to one lock manufacturer. Over the years we have tried and tested different cylinder locks ourselves because we want to fit products we are comfortable recommending.

We currently offer Avocet Pioneer 1-star cylinders as a standard option where suitable. If you want a higher-security cylinder, we can also offer an upgrade to the Ultion 3 Star PLUS.

Ultion’s current 3 Star PLUS cylinder carries TS007 3-star and Sold Secure Diamond accreditation and includes anti-snap, anti-drill, anti-pick and anti-bump protection. Its reinforced internal design includes a molybdenum core and LockDown Mode.

Eligible Ultion locks can also be registered for the manufacturer’s £5,000 security guarantee, subject to Ultion’s terms.

If your door needs more than a cylinder change, our wider lock upgrade service covers other ways of improving door security.

Can Several Anti-Snap Lock Cylinders Use the Same Key?

Depending on the manufacturer and range, cylinders can often be supplied keyed alike, allowing your front door, back door and other compatible external doors to work from the same key.

Thumb turn versions are also available for doors where convenient internal access is required.

If you need additional keys after the work has been completed, we also provide professional key cutting for high-security and standard keys.

Do You Need to Replace the Whole Door Lock?

Usually, no.

If the multipoint mechanism inside a uPVC or composite door is working correctly, we can often replace the euro cylinder without changing the complete locking system.

However, there are occasions where we find other problems while checking the door. A worn gearbox, damaged handles, alignment problems or faulty multipoint mechanism may need separate attention.

We will tell you what needs replacing and, just as importantly, what doesn’t.

If your reason for replacing the lock is a house move, lost keys or a change in who should have access, our lock changing service covers those situations too.

How Much Does an Anti-Snap Lock Cost?

The cost depends on the lock and the door rather than there being one price for every installation.

Things that can affect the price include:

The cylinder size required
The security rating and manufacturer
Standard key operation or a thumb turn
Whether several cylinders need to work from the same key
Whether existing security handles or door furniture also need upgrading
The number of locks being installed

Midlands Locksmiths works on a fixed-price basis, so we will explain the cost before the job goes ahead rather than charging more simply because fitting takes longer than expected.

For doors that would benefit from more than a cylinder upgrade, we can also advise on extra security fixings.

What Happens When We Fit an Anti-Snap Lock?

We don’t simply remove one cylinder and fit another without checking the rest of the door.

When we attend, we can:

We work with domestic and commercial properties and can advise on suitable cylinders for uPVC doors, composite doors, timber doors and compatible aluminium doors.

Our locksmiths are fully insured and DBS checked, and our work is guaranteed.

Upgrade Your Door with Anti-Snap Protection

You do not need to know the cylinder size, security rating or exact type of lock before calling us. That is what we’re here to check.

If you are concerned about lock snapping, have an older euro cylinder or simply want to improve the security of your front or back door, speak to Midlands Locksmiths.

We can inspect your existing setup, explain the options without the jargon and provide a fixed price for fitting anti-snap locks in Coventry, Leicester, Warwick, Solihull and across the wider West Midlands.