Anti-snap locks are one of the most effective ways of preventing impulse home burglaries. They make it much more difficult for criminals to access your property and encourage them to move on quickly.
Anti-snap locks have only been developed and released over the past twelve years and are rather effective. We recommend fitting anti-snap locks on all your external doors to keep your home safe, and we firmly believe the investment is worth it.
This article discusses anti-snap locks and why they’re probably a good idea for your home.
What are anti-snap locks?
Anti-snap locks are designed to prevent burglars from breaking into a property by snapping the lock cylinder. This is a common method used by burglars to gain entry to a property as it allows them to easily snap the lock cylinder and remove it from the door, allowing them to manipulate the lock and gain entry.
Anti-snap locks prevent this by featuring a sacrificial section of the lock cylinder that will snap off if force is applied, leaving the rest of the lock intact and preventing entry. These locks also typically feature additional security features such as anti-pick pins and hardened steel construction to further prevent unauthorised access.
Anti-snap locks are recommended for anyone looking to increase the security of their property, particularly those in areas with a high incidence of burglaries or break-ins. They can be installed by a professional locksmith and are available in a range of sizes and styles to suit different types of doors and locking mechanisms.
Are anti-snap locks effective?
Testing shows that anti-snap locks are incredibly effective at withstanding this type of attempted break-in. They must be installed and fitted correctly, or the benefits are immediately lost.
Anti-snap locks are effective at preventing snapping. Because of this, your home is far less prone to impulse break-ins. It’s much more difficult for a criminal to quickly snap the lock and gain access.
Note that even though the anti-snap lock will be effective at keeping burglars out, the lock will be unusable after an attempted break-in. You’ll still need an emergency locksmith to fit a new one immediately.
However, it’s also important to note that anti-snap locks don’t make it impossible to break in – just much more difficult. Thieves can use other methods to get past them or might look for other vulnerabilities in other doors or windows.
Why anti-snap locks are better than traditional locks
It’s better to have anti-snap locks than traditional euro setups, especially on your external doors. As we talked about in the previous section, they aren’t foolproof. But they will slow criminals down.
And that’s the most critical factor. Nothing makes a building impossible to break into, but you can make it not worth the risk for a burglar.
Think of it this way. Someone walks down your road looking for a home to break into. They try snapping your lock, but the anti-snap lock prevents them. As the security lighting comes on and the CCTV rolls, they quickly scarper. If, however, they can get in quickly, they’re likely to trip the alarm, grab whatever they can in 30 seconds, and disappear into the night.
Anti-snap locks work best when working in tandem with other security devices. These include alarms, CCTV, movement-based security lighting and deadbolts.
How to know if you have anti-snap locks already
The tell-tale sign of anti-snap locks is the three-star Kitemark logo. You should be able to find it on the lock face inside or outside the home.
If you have the paperwork, check your lock cylinders’ specific make and model. Compare this with a list of SS312-approved units to see if you have one.
(Of course, if you need clarification, you could always ask a locksmith to inspect your locks.)
You might decide that anti-snap locks are a good idea. At this point, contact an MLA-approved local locksmith to come and fit your new locks for you. Use a trusted service provider to ensure they’re correctly fitted, as incorrectly installed anti-snap locks are easy for criminals to access anyway.
How can Grays Locksmiths in Nottingham help you?
Grays Locksmiths is Nottingham’s local locksmith. As a member of the Master Locksmiths Association, we’re insured and trusted to get the job done quickly, efficiently and at a competitive rate.
We usually recommend fitting anti-snap locks on your external doors (front, back, and any side doors you might have). However, everything is always taken on a case-by-case basis.
To learn more about anti-snap locks or hire us to come and fit some, why not call us on 0115 9422315 or fill out the form below?