UPVC Front Door Security
Thousands of UPVC doors have been fitted around the country over the last few decades. A high percentage of these doors are fitted with a key cylinders known as “Euro” cylinders to lock the door. These doors usually include a multi-point locking system. This consists of a metal strip on the edge of the door. On this strip there are usually six points that engage with the main door frame when locked. The locking strip secures the door in place and with one or two turns of the key cylinder the locking system is secure.
However, how secure are these cylinders?
A uPVC front door fitted with a multi-point lock is only as good as the effectiveness of the cylinder. If an attacker can get past the cylinder then it would be easy to access the multi-point system and open the door.
The older Euro cylinders are apparently flawed. It’s not a particular version from any one manufacturer but the general overall design. Statistics have shown that burglars are able to bypass these Euro cylinders with apparent ease in seconds and open the door.
Two methods are used. The first is “lock bumping”. This involves using a special tool (key) used by legal lock smith called a “lock bumping key”. This key is inserted into the cylinder and struck with a hammer. This action pushes the key in raising the pins inside the cylinder up slightly for a short period. At the same time the attacker turns the key to unlock the door.
The second method is snapping. With simple tools the attacker can snap off and pull out the end of the cylinder from the frame due to an inherent weak point within the cylinder. The attacker pushes the rest of the cylinder out and gains access to the inner locking system and is able to open the door.
More recent newer cylinders are now anti-snap and anti-bump. You should check all your uPVC doors including uPVC French doors and upgrade as required.