The best anti snap locks are the ones tested to a recognised standard, not a particular brand. Look for a euro cylinder with a TS007 3 star Kitemark or Sold Secure Diamond (SS312) approval, the two standards police advice names, and have it fitted at the right length so it does not stick out past the handle.
No single brand is best, because the standard tells you more than the name on the box. West Yorkshire Police advice names two nationally recognised standards for cylinders, TS007 and Sold Secure Diamond (SS312), and recommends 3 stars as the minimum when upgrading. Sold Secure says its Diamond grade is equivalent to TS007 3 star, and the police advice notes that some cylinders have achieved both.
Under TS007, a 3 star cylinder with a 2 star security handle gives what West Yorkshire Police call a 5 star solution. A 1 star cylinder with a 2 star handle reaches the 3 star minimum. The Kitemark matters because, as the Master Locksmiths Association explains, it shows the product was tested by a third party and not simply approved to the standard by its maker.
Fitting is the part people skip. A cylinder that is too long sticks out, and the association says the more exposed a cylinder is, the more prone it is to snapping. West Yorkshire Police say cylinders should be measured properly and not left protruding from the door or handle. The association puts the limit at 3mm past the handle, ideally flush.
The upgrade cylinder we fit is a TS007 3 star anti snap cylinder at £60. The lock change itself is £85 by day, £120 in the evening and at weekends and £150 at night, plus the cylinder. Day means 8am to 6pm on weekdays and night means 10pm to 8am. Every part is named and priced before anyone sets off.
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