The vulnerabilities of the Euro Cylinder door lock
Euro locks have been around for a long time and are very popular, but there are issues with their security. The Euro Cylinder Lock has two main weaknesses: It is vulnerable to Lock Picking and Lock Snapping. So, what’s being done to improve its safety?
They are vulnerable to lock-picking and lock-bumping
The essential Euro Cylinder Lock is vulnerable to lock-picking attacks. These attacks include lock bumping which involves opening the lock with a crafted bump key cut to specific heights. Another way to pick locks is using a snap gun. It is a tool that can open a Euro cylinder lock without a key. These two methods need tools that can be purchased but still need practice to perfect the technique needed.
To combat this, there are new, higher-security Euro Cylinder Locks. These use specialised security and spool pins, designed to catch in the lock cylinder barrel when someone uses a bump key or snap gun. But most Euro Cylinder Locks don’t have these special security pins, if they were some years ago.
Lock snapping
Lock snapping is a method of forced entry that affects the Euro cylinder lock. It involves applying strong torque to the end of the lock cylinder, usually with a pair of mole-grips. This breaks the lock in half and allows access to the mechanism.
It can take less than 2 minutes to snap the lock and gain entry. Police in the UK estimate that about 22 million doors in the country could be at risk from lock snapping.
But there are measures to fix the vulnerabilities of the Euro-cylinder lock. New safety measures have been put in force. Any British Standard cylinders that meet the TS007 3 standard can stop this attack. They have been shown to reduce burglaries in implemented areas by up to 60%. If you are still determining if your locks are of enough standard, look for three stars on the front of the lock. You will indeed have a secure lock only where they are visible.
To learn more about the major security improvements, visit our website here.
If you are in the Rotherham area and want to find out more about improving the safety of the Euro Cylinder Lock, call Stephen directly on 01709 630027.