Euro lock

[reb78]

I need a new lock barrel for our front door. Two questions:
1. Is there any good reason not to go with a thumb turn on the inside rather than a key hole? My thinking is that its easy to lock, dont need to find a key to do so and can get out easily without searching for a key in the event of a fire/emergency
2. Should I be wary of buying online...? I am giving my address to the company that send me the lock... whats to stop them nipping round with a cut key?! Or am I being overly cautious?!

 

[Rrobson]

I would say if your extremely concerned about security then I guess with a thumb lock there is a slim chance of unlocking the door through the letter box, but obviously the would be thief wouldn’t know whether it’s got a thumb lock unless they had already checked. In terms of safety clearly it’s an advantage as anyone inside the building can unlock the door and escape without the keys.
and with regards to security again, if your very concerned then go to a b&q type retailer and buy one from there and pay cash so your card details can’t be looked up and subsequent address found... if you buy from a reputable dealer or direct from a manufacture I wouldn’t be overly concerned about security. With locks if someone is despite get in they will, a lock certainly doesn’t pose a huge problem to many as there generally are alternatives.

 

[northwest]

2. Should I be wary of buying online...? I am giving my address to the company that send me the lock... whats to stop them nipping round with a cut key?! Or am I being overly cautious?!

Sorry, this gave me a headache. When was the last time you heard of a rash of break-ins which were done using a key? This would make international news, never mind local. I would be more concerned about buying quality from a reputable dealer rather than going for the cheapest.

 

[Jack Ryan]

I need a new lock barrel for our front door. Two questions:
1. Is there any good reason not to go with a thumb turn on the inside rather than a key hole? My thinking is that its easy to lock, dont need to find a key to do so and can get out easily without searching for a key in the event of a fire/emergency
2. Should I be wary of buying online...? I am giving my address to the company that send me the lock... whats to stop them nipping round with a cut key?! Or am I being overly cautious?!

Ease of exit is important, especially with children in the house that don't normally carry keys. On the other hand, burglars can break in through a window and carry stuff out the front door.

If I buy a lock, I want a quality lock. That usually comes from a physical store or possibly an on-line store if it is a sealed package from the manufacturer. The reality is, the online store is probably the least likely burglar anyway.

Jack

 

[winchman]

Remember you need an anti snap lock, personally I dont like the thumb wheel but we have an emergency key incase of fire etc

What is Lock Snapping & How to Prevent It - Master Locksmiths Association

Find out what lock snapping is & how you can prevent lock snapping by fitting anti-snap locks to your upvc door. Learn if you have anti snap locks fitted & the best standard of euro cylinder lock to fit.

www.locksmiths.co.uk

These are very good quality, one of the lads in work had his lock snapped, we have all now fitted these, the local locksmith thought he had won the lottery as about 10 of us bought full sets

ABS Secure. High Security Locking Systems.

ABS anti snap euro cylinder locks. TS007 3 star diamond kitemark locks secure doors against lock snapping & bumping. Secured by Design police preferred ...

www.abs-secure.co.uk

Bought here

Home Secure | Home Security Products & Hardware

Home Secure: Huge range of home security products and hardware including euro cylinder locks, upvc door handles, window and door security | FREE UK delivery.

www.homesecureshop.co.uk

 

[Onoff]

Cheers @winchman , great post ref the anti snap locks. Keyed alike aren't cheap mind! Weigh that against the cost of a break in I suppose...

 

[angellonewolf]

just whip it out and replace if aperson want to brake in a punch in a corner of a window will allow entry and way easier than snaping a lock and then playing with the inners of the lock to open the door
and meny otherways on a lot of houses considder you lost your key id bet you would think of a few ways of getting in

the other week we had a problem with the shutter at work i went down on a sunday morning as i was up and its easier than trying to do it when people are using the door for access

i was there playing around on that sunday morning for 30 mins and at least 12 people walked by and 1 cop car went past how meny times did i get asked what i was doing

zero

even a few years ago i was helping a mate clear out a computer shop taking all rubish metal away 9.30 at night we where out side filling ours cars with pcs laptops etc there was a cop station round the coner we had at least 8 go passed not one even stoped to ask

locks are there to stop an opportunist from getting in

 

[jimbo84]

My mum lives in one of those over 60s type managed estates they all have thumb turns but also have a shield over the letterbox (internally) you'd never be able to use the thumb turn from the outside.

Go Avocet, keyed alike, yes they're expensive but very good quality and very secure, how often do you change locks, once every 10 years, the cost is nothing over that time.

 

[Longhorn6120]

Another vote here for the ABS Avocet, we’ve got 4 of them, including one in the new cabin (thumb turn).

I buy online and have them delivered to another address.

 

[Screwdriver]

Check with your insurance company if they will cover you for such a lock. My insurance company insists every door and window has locks which are also secured on the inside. They also insist that keys are not left inside the lock, especially for example window locks. Even the little square post style window lock (that every self respecting burglar will have in their pocket anyway) you can't leave it stored in the inside lock barrel. Sort of defeats the object of the window being locked.

I guess insurance requirements will vary between companies and locations but that's what mine insisted on.

 

[frank horton]

u wanna laugh,
my wife was helping a friend move with our OLD rusty looking sprinter...
all of a sudden 3 cop cars turned up on the drive and asked what was going on.....
the wife who a bit quick thinking said do u think travelers would use such an OLD van.....they just left without checking anything else.....
PLOD.....!!!!!!!!!

 

[rtcosic]

I have just been through this for our new house.

All locks have thumb turns for the reasons quoted above. Keyed-alike including garage/shed/gate etc. So much more convenient only carrying one key!

I got 3 Star, Diamond Secure, TS007 - basically the highest security ratings I could find.

Online from here. They were much the same price as the supplier I have used before, but more responsive and helpful.

I have never encountered the insurance issue @Screwdriver mentions and I use CompareTheMeerkat every year and switch carriers most years.

The only potential downside to thumbturns is if you have toddlers and live on or near major roads. A toddler might learn to open the door before he is old enough to have learned road safety! Low probability though as Euro cylinders to these specifications require 2 full turns to lock or unlock.

 

[bricol]

My house insurance also has the requirement for locks on all door and window handles, with keys that are to be taken out.

Break-ins around here happen more often than not with a blow torch attach on the uPVc door and frame - allows the whole lock/handle to be bypassed, twisted and door opened.

Quiet enough to not disturb sleeping occupants - in one case, they were in before the dog woke up - the mother went downstairs to shut the dog up, found two or three balaclava clad blokes in the hallway . . . her screams woke the son up . . they ran out as he came down the stairs . . smashing the windows of the car they broke into to steal the keys for.

 

[Tom O]

I bought locks that you can insert any key and change the lock so front back and garage all use the same key.

 

[Tom O]

Years ago I rented a house that didn’t have the key for the garage so I picked up some tumblers from the locksmith and rekeyed it for a blank key.

 

[Rudi McAnichal]

We are faced with the same choice as the OP, having moved into a house that has a UPVC front door with multi-point lock and Euro cylinder (currently with keys both sides).

In our previous house the exterior timber door had two locks – one ASSA with external key & internal thumb-turn for use when we were in the house or garden, and an additional mortice deadlock (keys on both sides) to secure the property when we went out. That seemed a very satisfactory arrangement.

Can anybody tell me whether it is feasible to fit two locks in a modern UPVC door?

 

[Robotstar5]

I replaced my front door lock with the Avocet ABS lock a few years ago, I think it was due to a thread posted on here somewhere.

They were the ultimate at the time, had my local locksmith in a year or so ago to adjust the door in the frame and he agreed they were the best at the time, but he said I don't want to worry you but check out youtube videos where they show how to get past them in 30 seconds, I can't find it but it involved a blank key with sticky pads and magnets

 

[mike os]

We are faced with the same choice as the OP, having moved into a house that has a UPVC front door with multi-point lock and Euro cylinder (currently with keys both sides).

In our previous house the exterior timber door had two locks – one ASSA with external key & internal thumb-turn for use when we were in the house or garden, and an additional mortice deadlock (keys on both sides) to secure the property when we went out. That seemed a very satisfactory arrangement.

Can anybody tell me whether it is feasible to fit two locks in a modern UPVC door?

Not possible with a standard multipoint system

 

[Revs1972]

Changed to thumbturns on ours too. The avocet ones with key alikes on front and rear. Had them delivered to a different address. For me , not having to search for keys in an emergency outweighed any other factors. Kept the old ones in case ..ahem... the house was broken into

 

[Revs1972]

I replaced my front door lock with the Avocet ABS lock a few years ago, I think it was due to a thread posted on here somewhere.

They were the ultimate at the time, had my local locksmith in a year or so ago to adjust the door in the frame and he agreed they were the best at the time, but he said I don't want to worry you but check out youtube videos where they show how to get past them in 30 seconds, I can't find it but it involved a blank key with sticky pads and magnets

There is a guy on youtube who can pick virtually any lock on the market. Lets hope he keeps on the right side of the law