Anti-Snap Locks

A standard euro cylinder is a brass body with a key barrel running through the middle. The cylinder protrudes slightly from the door handle on the outside. A burglar grips the protruding section with a mole grip or specialist snap tool, levers it side to side, and the cylinder body snaps cleanly across the central cam line. The cam — the rotating piece that throws the multipoint mechanism — is then exposed and can be turned by hand with a screwdriver, opening the door from the outside in seconds.

It is fast, it is silent, it requires almost no skill, and it works on every standard euro cylinder ever made. The technique has been the dominant UK UPVC break-in method for over a decade and is the reason TS007 standards exist.

TS007 is the British Standards Institution Technical Specification for euro cylinders, published in 2012 in direct response to lock snapping. It defines three star ratings: 1-star (basic), 2-star (improved) and 3-star (the snap-resistant standard). Only 3-star cylinders pass the British Standard snap test, which simulates a real-world attack with a mole grip applied for several minutes.

3-star cylinders typically achieve snap resistance through one or more of: sacrificial sections that break off without compromising the rest of the cylinder; hardened steel inserts that resist gripping; anti-snap cuts that allow the outer portion to break away while the inner mechanism remains intact and secure; and reinforced cams that cannot be turned even if the outer body is removed. The Kitemark stamped on the cylinder face confirms independent testing.

Brisant Ultion: our most-recommended 3-star anti-snap cylinder. Engineered with an 11-pin mechanism, internal lockdown mode that triggers under snap attack, and a £1,000 break-in compensation guarantee when registered. Independently tested and very widely fitted across UK new-build housing.

Avocet ABS: long-running market-leading anti-snap range. Snap, bump, pick and drill protection. Sold Secure Diamond and TS007 3-star. Lifetime guarantee and £2,000 break-in compensation guarantee on premium variants when registered. Particularly good on doors where the cylinder protrudes from the handle plate.

Mul-T-Lock MT5+: high-end restricted-profile telescopic pin system. Extremely high pick and bump resistance. Restricted keys cannot be duplicated outside our system. Our default recommendation for high-net-worth homes and premises with cash on site.

Yale Platinum 3-star, ERA Fortress 3-star, Iseo F6 Extra: trusted alternatives carried on the van for like-for-like sizing matches.

A correctly sized cylinder sits flush with the handle plate on both sides of the door — neither protruding (which gives a snap attacker something to grip) nor recessed (which can prevent the cam engaging properly with the mechanism). Our engineers measure the existing cylinder internally and externally to the nearest 5mm before sourcing the replacement, so the new TS007 3-star cylinder sits flush.

Cylinders typically come in sizes from 30/30 (60mm total) up to 50/55 (105mm total) in 5mm increments. We carry the common sizes on the van and can source unusual sizes within 24 hours. Asymmetric cylinders (e.g. 35/45) are used where the door thickness requires a different internal and external dimension.

The visit takes 20–30 minutes per door. The engineer measures the existing cylinder, confirms the size and brand, removes the single cylinder fixing screw from the door edge, withdraws the old cylinder, fits the new TS007 3-star cylinder, replaces the fixing screw, cycles the key from inside and outside, tests the multipoint mechanism throw, and hands over 3 new keys plus the manufacturer's security card.

If the door also has a failed multipoint mechanism (handle lifts but bolts will not throw) we will identify this during the cylinder fit and quote you the additional work, often completing the gearbox replacement on the same visit from van stock for 90%+ of UK systems.

TS007 3-star anti-snap cylinder fitted: from £119 per door including the cylinder, 3 keys, fitting and a 12-month written guarantee on parts and labour. Premium options: Brisant Ultion from £159; Avocet ABS from £169; Mul-T-Lock MT5+ from £229. Keyed-alike sets (one key for front, back and side) are typically £30–£50 extra per cylinder when ordered together.

No call-out fee, no surcharge for evenings or weekends, fixed price agreed on the phone before we set off. Card payment, Apple Pay, Google Pay or bank transfer accepted on completion.

The honest answer depends on your door configuration and how visible each door is from the street. As a rule: any UPVC or composite door that faces a public highway, a garage drive, a side path or any other route a burglar can approach unobserved should be on TS007 3-star. Doors that face a private rear garden enclosed by 6ft fencing are at lower (though not zero) risk.

We will walk the property with you, point out the realistic risk on each door, and quote you a fixed price for the recommended upgrades — no upsell pressure. Many customers upgrade the front first and add back and side cylinders on a second visit; that is fine, the unit cost is the same either way.

We cover Slough (SL1, SL2, SL3), Reading (RG1–RG6, RG30, RG31), Oxford (OX1–OX4), Windsor (SL4), Maidenhead (SL6), Bracknell (RG12, RG42), Heathrow (TW6, UB7), Harrow (HA1–HA3), Uxbridge (UB8, UB10) and Staines (TW18, TW19), with the same fixed pricing 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

Average attendance into our core West London, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire coverage area is 20–40 minutes. Engineers are positioned across Slough, Langley, Iver, Uxbridge, Hayes, Heathrow, Staines, Windsor, Maidenhead, Bracknell, Reading, Earley, Tilehurst, Oxford, Harrow and the M4/M40/M25 corridor so we are almost never further than 20 minutes from your door.

Anti-snap cylinder upgrades are one of the most common same-day jobs we attend. Call before 4pm for a same-evening fit, after 4pm for a guaranteed next-morning slot.