Burglars using blowtorches to gain entry
Burglars using blowtorches to gain entry
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Salted_Peanut

Original Poster:

1,742 posts

70 months

Thursday 16th January
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Recently, I heard a locksmith comment that there is a trend to burn a hole in (uPVC) doors to get out the cylinder.

This article suggests an anti-snap cylinder remains effective, but what do you think?

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/uk-news/burgl...

Evanivitch

24,766 posts

138 months

Thursday 16th January
quotequote all
Salted_Peanut said:
Recently, I heard a locksmith comment that there is a trend to burn a hole in (uPVC) doors to get out the cylinder.

This article suggests an anti-snap cylinder remains effective, but what do you think?

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/uk-news/burgl...
As I understand it, the blowtorch is to remove the door handle allowing access to snap the barrel.

Using a 2* handle which is much more solid, should prevent this, and having an anti-snap barrel means they can't break the lock anyway.

edthefed

800 posts

83 months

Friday 17th January
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OP - its been happening for many years

Salted_Peanut

Original Poster:

1,742 posts

70 months

Saturday 18th January
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Test standards are being tightened to reflect other burglary techniques besides blowtorches. Sold Secure lists lock cylinders that pass its new (‘Diamond 2024’) test:

https://www.soldsecure.com/approved-product-search...

The 3-star rating is also being updated (although Sold Secure Diamond was always the tougher test). I doubt all the old 3-star lock cylinders will pass the new 3-star test.


Jamescrs

5,383 posts

81 months

Saturday 18th January
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Certainly the older white upvc doors are vulnerable to a blow torch attack where an anti snap lock has been fitted, the white plastic can be melted around the lock to make it come out or to remove door handles.

Quite often the older white UPVC doors can have centre panels which can be kicked through out of the door as well because the beading will give way and the panel then falls out but the disadvantage of that for a burglar is noise.

Little Lofty

3,647 posts

167 months

Saturday 18th January
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Jamescrs said:
Certainly the older white upvc doors are vulnerable to a blow torch attack where an anti snap lock has been fitted, the white plastic can be melted around the lock to make it come out or to remove door handles.

Quite often the older white UPVC doors can have centre panels which can be kicked through out of the door as well because the beading will give way and the panel then falls out but the disadvantage of that for a burglar is noise.
Yeah the police love them, a good fart can knock some of those old panels out.

Rushjob

2,208 posts

274 months

Saturday 18th January
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The late 1980's are calling!

Regular method of entry used on upvc doors during my early days on the beat.

Some could even say that the Snafs have gone all retro!

DKL

4,747 posts

238 months

Sunday 19th January
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I've spotted a few that seem to be on something called "secured by design" SBP and police recommended. There is a fairly comprehensive website to go with it. Is this actually a thing or just marketing BS?

Salted_Peanut

Original Poster:

1,742 posts

70 months

Monday 20th January
quotequote all
While Secured by Design is good for some things, it’s meaningless for euro cylinders.

Regarding euro cylinders specifically, the new ‘Diamond 2024’ standard is the most meaningful:

https://www.soldsecure.com/approved-product-search...

The old 3-star rating was also good, but it’s being revised to reflect newer burglary methods. Manufacturers have until 2027 to pass the updated 3-star test.

Crumpet

4,484 posts

196 months

Monday 20th January
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DKL said:
I've spotted a few that seem to be on something called "secured by design" SBP and police recommended. There is a fairly comprehensive website to go with it. Is this actually a thing or just marketing BS?
We had scum trying to break into our house a couple of years ago. On the CCTV you can clearly see them go to the door with a SBD handle and decide not to bother. They then went to break the non SBD handle and lock but the Ultion lock did its job. They failed to get in and went next door where they quickly gained entry and took their car.

So, from first hand experience, I’d say the SBD handles do the job. Fit it with an Ultion lock and it should be well up to standard.

cliffords

2,688 posts

39 months

Monday 20th January
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I managed to get the blame for locking my daughter and two small kids out of their house last year . Two year old pvc door with latest,most secure locks at that time 2023.

We called a locksmith out .
He looked at the door for 30 seconds and spent another 30 seconds opening it. I actually did not see what he did , it was over in a minute.

No damage to door.

Evanivitch

24,766 posts

138 months

Monday 20th January
quotequote all
cliffords said:
I managed to get the blame for locking my daughter and two small kids out of their house last year . Two year old pvc door with latest,most secure locks at that time 2023.

We called a locksmith out .
He looked at the door for 30 seconds and spent another 30 seconds opening it. I actually did not see what he did , it was over in a minute.

No damage to door.
It's still perfectly possible to pick the vast majority of locks, but it's much more skilled (especially if it's more than just raking) than a blunt force attack.

Byker28i

76,476 posts

233 months

Monday 20th January
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Our old conservatory windows had the snap on beading on the outside! The old back door you could just kick out the bottom panel below the glass...

Things have changed.

Gastons_Revenge

461 posts

20 months

Monday 20th January
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Evanivitch said:
cliffords said:
I managed to get the blame for locking my daughter and two small kids out of their house last year . Two year old pvc door with latest,most secure locks at that time 2023.

We called a locksmith out .
He looked at the door for 30 seconds and spent another 30 seconds opening it. I actually did not see what he did , it was over in a minute.

No damage to door.
It's still perfectly possible to pick the vast majority of locks, but it's much more skilled (especially if it's more than just raking) than a blunt force attack.
Exactly this, I got chatting to a locksmith who was called out to open a door at work and he told me it can take years and years of practice to become proficient at lockpicking.

DKL

4,747 posts

238 months

Monday 20th January
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It seems the mechanism is the APD but the lock is independent of that; you can remove it and replace it separately.