To tell you to change your locks

[Palomb]

If you have euro type barrel locks on any of your doors they are not secure. We were burgled last night for my husbands car. The scum that did it snapped the lock on our back door with a tool you can buy on ebay for less than a quid. We were asleep in the room above with the windows wide open and didn't hear a thing.

All out locks are currently being changed to anti snap locks. They are only £40 each. We had no idea lock snapping was even a thing.

Also, while I'm being bossy, if you have more than one car don't have all the keys on one key ring. I have to get all the locks changed on my car and it's going to cost £500+ this is not covered by my insurance. Keep your keys seperate. You can only drive one car at a time.

I know that Ironmongery Direct have trained and qualified architectural ironmongers in their call centre so if you're unsure, you can ring and ask for advice. Next day delivery too. And no I don't work for them!

My Locksmith Son finds the jobs in which someone is locked out but another door still has keys in the lock are the best because he can turn the lock without needing to drill it out. Leaving keys in (whether the key is turned or not) helps the picker. My Son is able to pick most locks easily. He rarely drills them. Each lock can be drilled at an exact point to reach the pins inside (if it can't be picked). Each lock is different but each one is vulnerable. One type of lock has keys with a magnet as part of the security feature, they are easy because you attach a small magnet to the pick and you're in after lifting the remaining pins. You're relying on the burglar not having brought little magnets with them. My Son taught my Wife to pick a few types of locks because she wanted to see how easy it is.. No lock is 100% safe. Lights and CCTV are the real deterrent for thieves.
Patio doors are my Son's bread and butter. He gets more call-outs for patio doors than anything else. Patio doors that have been smashed bumped, picked and even lifted off the rails (some just lift out). Patio doors are the worst. Especially the old ones. With the old ones you may as well leave the patio doors unlocked and swinging open.

You have my sympathies Palomb. The exact same thing happened to us at the end of last year - don't suppose you are near the midlands by any chance? I could have written your post word for word! There's a huge spate of it at the moment, it's a massive organised gang going for high end cars. We had both ours stolen on the same night.

We were also advised to leave the keys in easyish reach because if they really want the car, they'll make sure they take it.

Also another warning to all of you - our car was spotted as it was up for sale on eBay and we hadn't blanked out the reg no. Apparently it's really easy to go on line and find out where the car is if you know the reg. and eBay is used by them quite a lot to find their targets. I'd never sell a car on eBay again.

Check out, "letterbox kit" and, "lock pick gun". All on sale no questions asked. Locksmith suppliers don't ask for proof of ID. You buy what you need.

In the West Midlands Fuck

I've spoken to at least 10 people locally who have had the same thing over the last 6-8 weeks and that's just in in a small local Facebook group. I emailed the police asking for the crime stats but they haven't responded.

There was a gang caught and put away for this 4 years ago. They're probably all out now...

Thought you might be, they came from there to get ours. Apparently there's lots of them. One of the thieves who took ours was caught & jailed, we'd woken up as we heard them drive off & the car was trackered. Even if they are caught, they just get 12mths max then they're back out again. The punishment doesn't seem to have any impact

Completely put DH off from owning a high end car again as we just couldn't take the risk.

Unfortunately my DH doesn't feel the same :( I don't want another high end car anywhere near my house.

He's busy looking at Jags!

Sticking point

TBH you could be ok with a jag - the commonly taken ones seem to be mainly Audi, BMW & the A class Mercs and of those it's mainly RS & S models & equivalent. There's obviously a better 'market' for them.

Hope you get sorted soon.

www.whatcar.com/news/the-most-stolen-cars-in-the-uk/

BMWs and Mercs seem to be the most "popular" for want of a better word.

Top of the list is the BMW X5, which is why I am very grateful I couldnt afford one and went for a Volvo instead.... no one would nick a Volvo!

I've got a Skoda. I don't think anyone is likely to steal that either but you never know.

Round here it seems to be mostly Audis that they like.

Cctv man is here now.

We have a Defender. I knew it would be on that list. It gets pulled over a lot by police for spot checks because they are broken into so often. They are just so easy to break into, they wouldn't even need to come in the house and get the keys. We do occasionally worry about it (sometimes parking my car behind it on the drive so it can't get out, or parking it in a barn if we go away), but most of the time it looks so wrecked from the farm that I don't think anyone pays much notice to it!

alarms can be set to work with cats. Our cat sets it off maybe once every 2 years - if that ?

most alarms come with PIRs, but if you get plenty of door and window sensors instead, your cat will probably not be able to operate the locks.

You can aim PIRs at head height to avoid dogs, but cats climb on furniture and up curtains when they consider it necessary.

I knew about locks being snapped as our 5 point door failed and a few moments on YouTube (looked at the vid upthread as I chose one with a slight woman) taught us high to snap the lock.

Ours was one of those that didnt protrude on the outside but we still managed to get some leverage and break out. We now have a similar key. If you register the barcode with Yale you can order keys whenever.

A few years ago I had a mate (over in Pype Hayes) who had his side window smashed for the car keys, he did confront them but backed off when they threatened him. His was a Mercedes.

We have a car that apparently is prone to theft, we have a Disklok on it, but if someone really wanted it they would get through this as well

No need to start a new thread as its relevant I think. The lock snapping thing is getting out of control but no door companies are fitting anti snap locks as standard. As mentioned anti-snap locks are available and the best way to be safe and secure. I've recently had to have keys cut for the young ones as they are now old enough to have their own keys.
I used the Ultion Key service from SheffLOCK as it was 3 for 2. The house is still in one piece but half term is close!

We have an alarm with sensors on doors and windows as we have pets.

Also have a metal security door with a 5 bar lock, and a window next to it with security glass. I have lights on timers.

My neighbour has none of these, especially lights, and was burgled a while ago, car was on the drive (not a desirable one as it was still there). They just use a big screwdriver round here and pop the lock, it is easy.

We have had attempts at getting keys through the letterbox in the past (unlucky as they are not in reach) while we were home. So, if you are home it is best not to leave keys near the door. At night is another matter.

We have an alarm but don't ever set it because we have cats. Will be researching alternatives I think. Which one have you got?

Sorry if cross posting but you can have your alarm adjusted to take account of cats and even dogs - we had ours done for our cats and then our fully grown Labrador.

Some info here about snap safe locks

www.locksmiths.co.uk/faq/lock-snapping-most-secure-lock-cylinder/

We recently changed our locks and fitted anti-bump, anti-snap locks (the ones with the weird looking keys) which are made by Yale. Cost £40 each and came in a couple of days.

For a PP who asks if you can fit them yourselves. Yes. My DH did. You will need to take of your handle to determine what size you need though. Don't assume all your doors will take the same size. If uncertain, then get a locksmith to change them.

I would suggest that anyone moving house changes their locks virtualy immediately. So many people could have keys to your new home so the best way to protect yourself is to change the locks.

Our car keys are on the bedside table overnight in an RFID-blocking pouch. I heard that most cars that are stolen are taken off someone's drive by using signal boosters and just driving them way. This happened by us recently. So, wherever you keep the key, keep it somewhere where the RFID is blocked. If you can't afford the few pounds for a pouch, or until you get one, wrap your key at night in aluminium foil.

In the next road to me recently someone was seen going house to house in daylight ringing bells/knocking on doors. If no-one answered they then tried the handle . So, a warning not to leave your door unlocked. Keys in the inside of the lock are a bit silly if you have a letterbox close to it also.

Also buy an aluminium case or other RFID sleeve to protect your debit, credit and points cards from having info stolen from them by passers by in the street.

Sorry so long, just got on a roll there.

Op you can get alarms that are pet friendly. Ours is and it recognises the differences between humans and animals so I’m told. We don’t have pets so not tried it.
There are absolute scumbags around. I’ve been burgled in the past. It’s such a horrible feeling, I felt so violated. Thinking of you xx

I used the Ultion Key service from SheffLOCK as it was 3 for 2. The house is still in one piece but half term is close!

We had new doors put in recently and were offered a choice of locks, we went for Ultion eventually because they're practically invincible (though I appreciate if someone's determined to get in they'll get in).

Our neighbours were burgled for their cars a few years ago and the police officers who did the rounds both said never to hide your car keys when you go to bed because it just means they'll spend longer in your home searching for them.

A dreadful thing to be burgled, and thank you to OP and all those with their really good advice on how to prevent robbery. I had never even heard of those anti-snap locks before.