Call any time
Anti Snap Locks Oxford TS007 3 Star Cylinder Upgrades
Older uPVC and composite doors often have an unrated cylinder that offers little resistance to lock snapping. We upgrade it to a TS007 3-star or Sold Secure Diamond cylinder, usually in under half an hour.
Book an anti snap upgrade
Tell us what you need and we will call you straight back. Calling is quickest: 07520 644 595. Photos by WhatsApp: 07466 695655
TS007 3-star rated
Kitemarked cylinders tested against snapping, drilling, picking and bumping.
Sold Secure Diamond options
SS312 Diamond cylinders for the highest tested level of attack resistance.
Free security check
We read the markings on your existing cylinders and tell you honestly if they pass.
Insurer ready invoice
Itemised invoice listing the rating fitted, handy for home insurance records.
We fit anti snap locks in Oxford 24 hours a day, upgrading an unrated euro cylinder to a TS007 3-star or Sold Secure Diamond cylinder for £95 to £135 plus the cylinder at £50 to £120. In the city we usually arrive within 10 to 30 minutes, and each door typically takes under half an hour. This is a security upgrade rather than a repair: your door and mechanism stay as they are, and only the weakest component is replaced.
Not sure whether your current lock is protected? A clear photo of the cylinder face sent by WhatsApp to 07466 695655 is often enough for us to tell you.
What is lock snapping and why does it matter?
Lock snapping is a method of forced entry that targets the euro cylinder on uPVC, composite and aluminium doors. A standard cylinder is thinnest at its centre, where the fixing screw passes through. Under enough force it can break at that point, and once it does, the rest of the lock offers little resistance.
Police crime prevention advice across the UK regularly mentions it because it is quick, fairly quiet and needs no specialist skill. It mainly affects doors fitted before rated cylinders became common, and doors where the cylinder sticks out past the handle.
We will not describe how it is done. What matters for you is whether your cylinder is designed to resist it, which you can check in a minute.
The good news is that the fix does not involve a new door or a new mechanism. Because the euro cylinder is a separate component held by one screw, replacing it with a rated version is a small, tidy job that leaves your door, handles and frame exactly as they were, with new keys handed over at the end.
How to tell if your lock is anti snap
Open the door and look at the face of the cylinder on the outside, and along its edge if you can see it. Then compare with the table.
| What you see | What it means | Our advice |
|---|---|---|
| No markings at all | Almost certainly an unrated standard cylinder | Upgrade recommended |
| Kitemark with 1 star | Meets TS007 1-star, resists basic attacks only | Needs a 2-star security handle or a new 3-star cylinder |
| Kitemark with 3 stars | Meets TS007 3-star on its own | Good standard if it sits flush |
| Sold Secure Diamond (SS312) | Passed the toughest Sold Secure cylinder test | Excellent |
| Cylinder sticks out more than 3mm past the handle | Wrong size fitted, whatever the rating | Replace with the correct length |
Marketing words like snap safe, anti bump or high security printed on the packaging mean little on their own. Look for the actual kitemark and star rating, or the Sold Secure logo with the grade.
TS007 3-star, Sold Secure Diamond and the 1 star plus 2 star combination
TS007 3-star cylinder
The British Standards kitemark scheme tested to TS007. A 3-star cylinder meets the full level on its own, without any special handle.
Our standard recommendation
Sold Secure Diamond SS312
An independent test run by Sold Secure that includes snapping attack methods. Diamond is the top grade for cylinders and is widely respected by insurers.
Best for high risk doors
1-star cylinder plus 2-star handle
A 1-star cylinder behind a 2-star security handle together reach the 3-star total. Works, but relies on the handle staying fitted and undamaged.
Acceptable, less flexible
Many rated cylinders are also built with a sacrificial front section, so if the outside is attacked the part that operates the lock stays protected inside the door. We can talk you through brands available at each price point when quoting, and if you have already settled on one well known make, our Ultion lock fitting page covers that range on its own.
Do insurers ask for anti snap locks?
Home insurance policies vary. Many ask for locks that meet a recognised British Standard on final exit doors, and for timber doors that usually means a BS3621 mortice lock. For uPVC and composite doors, a TS007 3-star or Sold Secure Diamond cylinder is the equivalent most insurers recognise. Check your own policy wording, especially the section on doors and locks.
Paperwork that helps
After every upgrade you receive an itemised invoice listing each cylinder, its rating and the door it was fitted to. If you ever need to make a claim, that record shows the standard of lock that was in place.
If you have a timber front door with a traditional deadlock, see our BS3621 mortice lock page instead, as anti snap cylinders apply to euro profile locks.
Which Oxford homes benefit most from an upgrade
Any uPVC or composite door with an unrated cylinder is worth upgrading, but some situations come up often around Oxford.
- Homes with original 1990s and 2000s doors. Estates in Kidlington, Botley and Blackbird Leys have many doors fitted before rated cylinders were usual.
- Rented houses and HMOs. Shared student houses in East Oxford and Headington see frequent tenant changes, so landlords often combine an upgrade with new keys.
- Back doors facing alleys or gardens. Out of sight from the street, these are where attacks are least likely to be noticed.
- After a break-in nearby. A burglary on your street is a common prompt to check the cylinders on every door in the house, including the one to the garage.
For other quick wins, our five home security tips for Oxford residents covers windows, lighting and spare keys.
What an anti snap lock fitting involves
Check every door
We read the markings on front, back and side door cylinders and measure each one against its handles.
Choose the rating
TS007 3-star or Sold Secure Diamond, thumbturn or key both sides, and whether you want them keyed alike.
Fit flush
The new cylinder is sized so it sits flush or within a couple of millimetres of the outside handle.
Test the mechanism
We confirm every locking point engages properly, since a strong cylinder on a sagging door is wasted.
If we find the door has dropped or the gearbox is worn, we tell you and price it separately before doing anything. The multipoint gearbox page covers that side, and a plain like for like key change without the security upgrade is on our euro cylinder replacement page.
Going further than the cylinder
A rated cylinder deals with the most common weakness on modern doors, but it is one layer. On request we can also fit:
- Security handles with a 2-star rating and a protective cylinder shield.
- Hinge bolts and extra door bolts on back and side doors.
- Door chains and viewers from £35 to £65 plus parts.
- Locking window handles on ground floor uPVC windows.
All of our home security work is listed under locksmith services in Oxford, with every price on the price list.
Anti snap lock prices in Oxford
Fitting includes VAT and labour, the cylinder is listed separately and the price is agreed before we set off.
| Service | Price | What's included |
|---|---|---|
| Anti-snap cylinder upgrade (TS007 3-star) | £95 to £135 + cylinder £50 to £120 | Rated cylinder sized flush to the handle |
| Front/back door lock change (euro cylinder) | £65 to £85 + lock £25 to £40 | Standard cylinder for low risk doors |
| Door handle replacement | £55 to £85 + handle £25 to £60 | Security handle option |
| Security chain or door viewer | £35 to £65 + parts | Extra layer on the main door |
| Extra keys | £8 to £25 per key | Restricted keys priced on request |
Prices include VAT and labour. Parts are listed separately. See the full Oxford locksmith price list.
