Replacing a cylinder lock

[Jupiter01]

Hi,

I've had a bifold door installed with what appears to be a "cheap" and presumably unsecure cylinder lock. I want to change this as the builders also had a key during the works. I'm after advice on what to change it with please.

I can see that Screwfix do cylinders ranging fro £10 to £60. I am also after something which isn't susceptible to lock bumping.

Thanks in advance.

 

[rules&rulers]

I use these cylinders all the time http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Avocet-AB...-TS007-/111973802580?var=&hash=item5fac5a6560

Not advertising but i use that shop for all my locks,they even do a key alike service with no fuss and bother.

 

[Gazman16]

ABS or Ultron

Both diamond rated security but Ultron also have a £1000 guarentee

 

[Bungled]

I'd look for any euro cylinder with a Sold Secure Diamond rating.

 

[endecotp]

Ask your insurance company what they require or prefer.
(This may or may not be the same as what is actually most secure.)

 

[Chud]

Another vote for ABS Avocet - you can usually pick them up for £40-£50. Only thing about them I'd say is that the key's are magnetic so don't put them in a pocket with a card that still relies upon a magnetic stripe.

 

[Bungled]

Ask your insurance company what they require or prefer.

Shouldn't a euro cylinder with a Sold Secure Diamond or TS007 3-star rating exceed most insurance requirements? I've generally seen insurers require a multi-point lock to have at least three locking points, but not specify a minimum standard for the lock cylinder itself.

However, I agree it's still worth checking. I've seen the odd insurance policy require additional/secondary patio door locks (irrespective what euro cylinder's in the primary lock).

 

[Doggit]

I suspect insurance companies haven't upgraded their policies in the light of bump and snap burglaries yet. Cheap Euro cylinders used to be fine, and it was the multi point locking system made it harder to jimmy the door.

But if those ABS locks are anti bump, pick and snap, how does a locksmith get them out if you lose your keys

 

[crank39]

Its been a while but the policies i dealt with stipulated 5 lever BS standard for all external doors, clearly for timber doors or a multipoint lock for pvc, at the time there was no stipulation on the quality of the barrel but its been a while and at that time there were only basic standard and anti drill, it would be interesting to know what they stipulate now but I'd hazzard a guess and say a sold secure diamond 3 star TS007 rated barrel far exceeds insurance requirements at present

I used to do a bit of basic locksmithing, had some training and i know fully timeserved locksmiths will always work out a way, it may not be a non destructive way which they prefer but they'd bypass it somehow, i was taught that sometimes it might be easier to break in via a different door, if the back door is easier and it gets you in so you can snap the inner half of the front door lock then you do that

 

[Doggit]

Now this is getting interesting. Looking at the link from R&R reagrding the matched keys, I thought, nice idea, but if you lose the keys, then the locksmith can't break into either one, so what't the next step. I think I might go and have a chat with my local locksmith.

 

[JohnD]

if you lose the keys

how would you lose all the keys, including the spares and the ones you had deposited with a trusted person or hidden in the boot of the car or in the shed?

 

[Doggit]

What shed; lose the keys and you can't get into the boot, There's no one I'd trust round me that wouldn't use them whilst I'm out, and I live on my own, I've tried to get the partner to keep a spare on her keyring and it's an impossibility.

Beleive me. I am the worst case scenario.

 

[endecotp]

Its been a while but the policies i dealt with stipulated 5 lever BS standard for all external doors

Yes, that's the sort of thing I had in mind. My policy requires that I have a 5-lever lock to BS-whatever.
Fitting a lock that you believe is better but that doesn't meet their requirements is a risk.

 

[Tigercubrider]

Leave a spare at work ? Unlabelled.
I hold spare keys for two friends.
To prevent the keys identifying their house, they are labelled with cryptic names

 

[ironsidebod]

If you really have no alternative a locksmith can get in with a snapped ABS lock. It just requires expensive drill bits and lots of time and patience. Funnily all of the things that criminals don't have. Biggest problem in this scenario is you pay more for the time spent.