Are North American locks less secure?

[mh]

[lockedin]

In all fairness to American deadbolts, even the lowliest Kwikset isn't in much danger of being snapped. I know "wrenching" or twisting off the lock used to be a problem, but casing that spins is now very common to prevent this. I think our locks are still easier to compromise by non-destructive methods, even if destructive methods are the most commonly used by criminals.

[raimundo]

Use to be that japanese cars had very easy locks, while german cars had the hardest. of course in japan, you don't even have to use a bicycle lock, they don't steal. I think that the quality of locks follows several factors, one is the hardware that is available, and that is only upgraded when insecurity is widely demonstrated (kryptonite) and they types of attacks common. Brute force attacks and heavy tool attacks are common until a place has upgraded most of the hardware till that becomes much more difficult. Locksmiths will sell a limited variety of hardware, in three security grades, which would best be expressed as 'very expensive' 'middle grade' and 'so you want it cheap'. landlords usually go for the last quality. homeowners use middle grade, and rich or paranoid or those who really have something to protect will go with expensive. Expensive is a category that explains such things as medeco padlocks with a large lock body and a shackle that fits easily in the jaws of any average boltcutter. Hardware will not go to really good grades of effectiveness until door and doorframe construction also makes security possible. I believe from what I have heard, that germans install doors that swing out, so that kicking in will be resisted by the whole frame of the door. while in america, doors open inward usually. interior doors should not open into corridors, and doors that open outward are a hazard to little old ladies when the wind is gusting. Public buildings of course open outward with panic hardware of course. The local lock shops may want to sell the cheap stuff because its the easy sell, and everyone can buy it, but in some large cities, like Las Vegas or Sanfrancisco, better hardware is common, and you can buy european stuff like abloy. Lock shops also have an incentive to sell locks that they can service and yes, pick, although picking is not a great locksmith skill in the US any more. The current practice is drill and sell new hardware.

[mh]

I believe from what I have heard, that germans install doors that swing out, so that kicking in will be resisted by the whole frame of the door.

No we don't. Imagine, the doors would get all dirty, outside in the rain
(except of course for public buildings, panic safety, as everywhere in the world)

We do however quite often have multipoint deadbolts (or 'jimmy-proof' hooks for that matter) that are all operated by the one main lock. Like this: http://www.kfv.de/flash_as_2750.html ("Mehrfachverriegelung" = multiple locking points)

Cheers,
mh

P.S. And - just to prevent other preconceptions - we do drive on the right side of the road

[Bahrg]

[quote = Raimundo]I believe from what I have heard, that germans install doors that swing out, so that kicking in will be resisted by the whole frame of the door.[/quote]

Maybe that isnt done, but that sounds like one of the best ideas I have heard for making a normal house door more secure.

[Mutzy]

i heard that some people use stilsens (the wrenches that plumbers use to turn siezed pipe connectors) to twist knobsets right off. I've never seen it done, but we have a box at work with replacement knobs (read: uncomplete locks ) that we use to replace broken ones.

[lockedin]

i heard that some people use stilsens (the wrenches that plumbers use to turn siezed pipe connectors) to twist knobsets right off. I've never seen it done, but we have a box at work with replacement knobs (read: uncomplete locks ) that we use to replace broken ones.

The detective in the documentary Roger & Me does this like in two seconds when he is evicting tenants. My father looked at me when we saw that and mockingly told me "yeah, all that picking and all I need is a wrench."