Recent press articles have alerted us to a new attack method that is being adopted by burglars to gain access to a property through PVCu doors fitted with standard euro cylinder door locks.
Police in Stockport, a borough of Greater Manchester, have recognised a surge in the number of burglaries involving blow torches, and they urge residents to consider their home security.
Burglars are using blow torches to heat door handle backplates and burn the PVCu skin of the door, so that they can more easily access the euro cylinder door lock and affect a lock snapping attack. Having snapped the euro cylinder lock, the burglar can manipulate the lock mechanism, as though they were turning the key.
The force advise homeowners to check the security rating of their euro cylinder door lock, and to upgrade to a TS007 (one or three star) or Sold Secure Diamond Standard lock if necessary.
What is TS2007
TS007 is considered the de facto security standard for replacement cylinder locks and protective door furniture. The standard uses criteria of the past Kitemark tests (BS EN 1303:2005, BS 3621:2007 and PAS24:2007*) but also includes tests for common lock-snapping attack methods. When put to the test, successful high security euro cylinders are awarded either a 1-star classification or a 3-star classification, with 3-star being the most secure.
By fitting a high security TS2007 3-star euro cylinder lock (such as the Yale Platinum Euro Cylinder), or a combination of 1-star euro cylinder lock with a 2-star lever handle set (such as Yale Superior Euro Cylinder with Yale Platinum Lever Handles), you are protecting your property against the combined blow torch and snap attack.
Homeowners may further improve door and window security by fitting sash jammer locks, which act as a secondary defence, should the locks be compromised.
For further details, see the Manchester Evening News article, 'Criminals are using blowtorches to break into people's homes'.
Images: Stockport Crimewatch
