How the attack works
A euro cylinder is a single brass body with a cam in the middle that drives the lock. On most uPVC and composite doors, that cam operates the whole multipoint locking strip. If the cylinder sticks out past the handle, it can be gripped and forced until it breaks at its thinnest point, exposing the cam. Once the cam is turned, every locking point on the door opens with it.
What the evidence says
- The MLA obtained West Yorkshire Police data showing snapping in 15.87% of burglaries at the 2011 peak, falling to 8.32% by 2019, as better cylinders spread.
- Attempted snapping in the same data fell from 6.04% to 2.67%.
- This is one force’s data, and we have not found a current national or London-wide figure. Treat it as evidence that snapping was — and remains — a real method, not as a London statistic.
- West Yorkshire Police notes that “some offenders have developed a way of overcoming” older anti-snap designs, which is why tested ratings matter more than “anti-snap” labels.
How anti-snap cylinders resist it
A 3-star cylinder is tested against snapping as part of TS007. Designs differ: some use a sacrificial front section that breaks away while the core stays intact; Avocet describes a cam that locks down inside a hardened core when the ABS is attacked, so the door stays locked. What matters to you is the tested rating on the cylinder face — see TS007 3-star explained.
What to do now
- Check the cylinder face for three stars (or one star plus a 2-star handle).
- Check the cylinder doesn’t stick out past the handle by more than a few millimetres.
- Don’t forget back and side doors — they often have the cheapest cylinder in the house.
We replace euro cylinders with an Avocet ABS 3-star for £149 flat per door across North & Central London and Hertfordshire. Book an upgrade.