A Euro cylinder without anti-snap protection can be broken in under 10 seconds with a pair of pliers and a screwdriver. That vulnerability is why West Yorkshire Police and the Master Locksmiths Association recommend fitting a cylinder tested to at least TS007 3-star or Sold Secure SS312 Diamond. This guide covers what those standards actually test for, three cylinders that meet them, and how to check one has been fitted correctly.
What is lock snapping, and how big a risk is it
Lock snapping is a technique that breaks a Euro cylinder into two pieces by forcing its weakest point, usually with pliers or a similar tool, which exposes the internal mechanism so it can be turned by hand from outside the door.
It’s a specifically UK problem, because standard Euro cylinders sit proud of the door furniture on the outside, giving a burglar something to grip. Freedom of Information data obtained by the Master Locksmiths Association from West Yorkshire Police shows lock snapping accounted for 15.87% of burglaries at its 2011 peak, falling to 8.32% by 2019, as anti-snap cylinders became the standard replacement.
That drop tracks closely with two testing standards introduced in 2011 and 2012, TS007 and SS312 Diamond, both built specifically to defeat this attack.
A standard cylinder fitted in 2008 isn’t a design flaw. It simply predates the industry having a widely adopted answer to this problem, and the fix costs about the same as a locksmith’s call-out fee.
A snap-resistant cylinder only protects the door it’s fitted to. It does nothing for a shed or outbuilding, which typically needs its own protection, such as a shed alarm.
The standards that matter: TS007 3-star vs SS312 Diamond
Look for the BSI Kitemark with “3 star” printed next to it, or the Sold Secure Diamond mark stamped on the cylinder’s end plate. Either one confirms the cylinder has been independently tested to resist snapping, not just marketed as if it has.
TS007 was developed by the Door and Hardware Federation and the Glass and Glazing Federation, backed by BSI and Secured by Design, the police’s design-out-crime initiative. It rates security in stars:
- 1 star: a cylinder alone
- 2 star: security door furniture (a reinforced handle and escutcheon)
- 3 star: a cylinder that resists snapping on its own, or a 1-star cylinder combined with 2-star furniture
West Yorkshire Police’s own advice puts it plainly: “a 3-star solution is the minimum to achieve if you are upgrading your cylinders.” Pair a 3-star cylinder with 2-star furniture and the force rates it a 5-star solution, the strongest combination available.
SS312 Diamond is the other recognised standard, run by Sold Secure, and is generally considered the harder test to pass because it requires heavier tools during testing. A cylinder rarely carries both TS007 3-star and SS312 Diamond. Not carrying SS312 doesn’t make a TS007-rated cylinder inferior. They’re two different labs testing to two different specifications.
If a listing says “anti-snap” with no star rating or Diamond mark anywhere in the description, treat that word as marketing copy rather than a specification.
Best anti-snap locks compared
Three UK cylinders carry TS007 3-star certification and sit within about £1.50 of each other on price: Yale Platinum, Avocet ABS, and Ultion. This comparison is built from published specifications, manufacturer guarantee terms, and current UK retail prices, not hands-on testing.
| Cylinder | Certification | Security guarantee | Price (checked 25 Aug 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yale Platinum 3-star | TS007:2014 3-star, Secured by Design | £1,000 | £52.95 (Screwfix) |
| Avocet ABS Master/Ultimate | TS007 3-star, Secured by Design | £2,000 | £54.19 (Safe.co.uk) |
| Ultion ALPS/WXM 3-star | TS007 3-star (+A1:2024), Sold Secure Diamond | £5,000 | £54.00 (Lock Shop Warehouse) |
Price isn’t the deciding factor between these three, the guarantee and certification spread is. Ultion is the only one of the three carrying both TS007 3-star and Sold Secure Diamond, and its £5,000 guarantee is more than double Avocet’s and five times Yale’s. Yale’s £1,000 guarantee is the lowest of the three, though it carries the same Secured by Design endorsement as Avocet.
A guarantee is a compensation promise if the worst happens, not a measure of how likely that is. All three cylinders here pass the same TS007 3-star bar. The guarantee gap says as much about each manufacturer’s marketing budget as it does about which cylinder a burglar finds harder to snap.
Sizes and finishes vary between chrome, nickel, brass, and key/key or key/thumbturn versions, so the exact price moves depending on the size fitted. How to measure a cylinder correctly is below.
Getting it fitted right
A correctly rated cylinder fitted badly still snaps. The cylinder should not protrude more than 3mm from the surface of the external door handle. Anything more gives a tool more to grip.
Measure before buying. There are two ways: measure the cylinder in place through the keyhole, or remove it and measure directly.
- Measure from the centre of the fixing screw hole to the edge of the cylinder on each side.
- Round each measurement up to the nearest 5mm.
- A cylinder is described by both measurements together, for example 35/45 for a cylinder measuring 35mm on one side and 45mm on the other.
West Yorkshire Police recommends using a locksmith registered with the Master Locksmiths Association for specification and fitting, particularly where the correct size isn’t obvious. A locksmith measuring a cylinder takes a couple of minutes on-site. Ordering the wrong size by post means measuring it twice anyway, with a week’s wait added in between.
Swapping just the cylinder doesn’t require building control notification. Replacing the whole door does, and needs either a FENSA-registered installer or building control sign-off. Worth knowing before assuming a lock upgrade and a door replacement are the same job.
Frequently asked questions
How old is too old for a Euro cylinder?
A Euro cylinder fitted before 2011, before TS007 and SS312 existed as recognised standards, is very unlikely to be anti-snap rated. Check for a star rating or Diamond mark stamped on the cylinder’s end plate. No mark usually means no rating.
How long does lock snapping take?
West Yorkshire Police and the Master Locksmiths Association both put it at under 10 seconds with basic tools such as pliers or a wrench, once the weak point in the cylinder has been located.
How does an anti-snap cylinder actually work?
An anti-snap cylinder has a deliberately weaker outer section, sometimes called a sacrificial or false front. That section is designed to snap off first and absorb the attack, but the break happens before it reaches the cylinder’s internal locking mechanism, so the door stays secured.
What does it cost to fit an anti-snap lock?
Anti-snap cylinders typically cost £50 to £60, against roughly £25 for a standard, non-rated cylinder. Professional fitting through a locksmith adds roughly £130 upward depending on location and cylinder brand.
A new cylinder secures one entry point. For a wider plan covering the rest of the property, setting up a home security system covers alarms, sensors and cameras alongside the door hardware.
