Lock snapping is a burglary technique which involves snapping a particular type of lock cylinder in two by applying the right amount of force and removing the outside part to expose the locking mechanism. Once the locking mechanism is exposed, it’s open to tampering which allows the door to be unlocked using simple household tools.

HOW DO ANTI-SNAP CYLINDERS NOT SNAP? IN SHORT, THEY DO!

But they are engineered to snap in the right place and a long way in front of the vulnerable central section that gives access to the multi-point-lock or dead lock. Due to the small size and shape that the cylinder has to squeeze into it would not be possible to make a cylinder strong enough to withstand the enormous applied pressure of the mole grips whilst still being affordable.

The concept is that when the burglar grabs the end of the cylinder just the tip snaps off leaving more metal in front of the central target area.

Lock snapping is just one of many terms used to describe this tye of lock vulnerabiity, other terms which the anti-snap lock protect against include strike and snap, wiggle and snap, tool and snap, cylinder snapping and lock bumping, to name but a few.