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Security with an emphasis on european locks

Thinking of upgrading your door security? Getting a better deadbolt or padlock? Getting a new frame or better hinges? Not sure what brand or model to go with for your particular application? Need a recommendation? Feel free to ask for advice here!

Security with an emphasis on european locks

Postby ARF-GEF » 24 Jun 2013 16:17

We often get questions what lock to buy. I wanted to offer a bit of guide how to get the most out of the lock you own and some other tips on security.
Feel free to post any questions you may have. (Please read the "Welcome to the Public - Please read this FIRST" and the "Read this before posting a question :)" parts before you do.)
This is not an order of importance this is just and order in which they came into my mind :D :

First of all make sure your Euro profile lock is installed properly. If it protrudes from the surrounding surface more than 2 mm it can be broken off.
Proper installation of all locks are crucial.

If you use more than one lock it might be a good idea to use different types, to avoid all lock having the same weakness and forcing the criminals to have a broader expertise.

Look into the matter of shielding the lock.There shield greatly heighten the security offered by the lock. It is a major defence against all kinds of destructive entry.
Plus it makes it impossible to ID the lock in advance, making it harder for the criminals to prepare themselves.
Here is a picture or a good security shield:
Image
(Picture taken from Security Snobs, with their prior agreement. This is a company I have dealt with and had positive experience but I have no affiliation with it or any other lock maker.)

Make sure the door handle is cannot be easily taken off. Some are only fixed with 2 Philips' screws which can be screwed out in a few seconds. That can leave the locking mechanism exposed to attacks.
Security door fittings are recommended.

Control you keys:
You should also be careful who you give the key to, (or to a lesser amount whom you show the key). Most keys are easy to make copies of and some can be "decoded"(= the information to reproduce it) quickly. An expert can decode keys from a photo or in an ideal case even from sight. That however should not be a worry for average households or businesses. It needs considerable expertise to decode the key just by seeing it.
Keep track of who has the keys.
Also make sure there are no key of the lock you do not know of (for example in the hands of previous owners.)

If your lock comes with a security card, be sure to keep it in a safe place. Not only will you need it to make new keys, but anyone with access to it can get new keys to your door.

Do not leave your keys under the doormat or in a "secret" place near the door. If you have a person you trust, maybe even a neighbour, you can give them a key for emergencies. But seasoned criminals will find all your "secret" keys very shortly.

Make sure you pay attention to all ways of entry. There is no point in spending several hundred dollars on the front door when you have an easily accessible back door with the cheapest lock.
While the statistics I've read show windows not to be a common way in with robberies, keep in mind that there are windows and without any reinforcement (security foil or bars or similar things windows are a possible way of entry.
It might be good idea to have a bit of a gravel stripe right under the windows. Walking on those is really noisy and criminals dislike noise.

Keep in mind, that criminals prefer to work hidden from the eyes of others. If you can make you doors well lit with security lighting and well visible for example by trimming nearby bushes.

Do not make their job easier by leaving useful tools lying around. Ladders and prybars are very useful to criminals.
Look around your house try to think about what objects and surrounding elements can be useful for a criminal.

Make sure you have a strong door. Doors often have a rating by independent insurers.

When at home:
Those little chains which allow you to open the door a little but but try to keep people from pushing the door all the way in: they are 99% worthless. They can be easily snapped with a pliers or cutter tool, or can be broken out of the place.
Use a door viewer (with a broad angle so they can't hide right in the vicinity, and if they look bad ask them what they want.
Do not let suspicious people in your home. It sounds obvious but often robber trick or con their way in, claiming to be some sort of authority. (TV, phone comapny and so on). Ask for an ID and check with the company on phone.
If you are broken into police usually advices not to confront the attacker, but to flee and notify the police.

Keep in mind that most attacks (at least here) happen in a destructive way. Many weaker doors even give up to a few forceful kicks. The frame of the door is also a common victim to attacks.
That is why it might be a good idea to use a secondary lock. Like a deadlatch or a door bar (most of the pics shown by goggle for this word are really ugly, but believe me there are some very tasteful door bars.)

Don't be afraid to ask and get informed:
In many countries local police offers free security advice. Don't hesitate to ask them for it :) Many offer tips on their websites.
You can contact a few local lockies and they will surely be of assistance in beefing up your security.

Look for independent review of the lock. There are many institutes which test locks professionally, like SKG in the Netherlands or VDS in Germany. Some consumer magazines test locks as well.
Locks regulated by standards and tests some more meaningful then others. VDS and SKG are two of the better institutes.
The point here is learn to make a difference between advertisement of the company itself and and independent test.

Alarms are useful, but only when they are turned on. Similarly, do lock the doors, even the secondary lock.

A lock which is more rare in your country will have higher chance to be unknown to the criminals too.

If you have insurance, keep in mind they might have special requirements when it comes to locks.

One thing you should not worry: if you google a lock chances are you will find a video on youtube showing that that particular lock can be picked in very short time. That is not a good measure of security. Individual skills vary greatly, and it requires a very-very long and diligent practice to get good in picking. Criminals rarely do that, simply because it's not worth the effort to get necessarily good. It's much easier to break in with other methods. The statistics I've read also underpin that picking is very rare in robberies.
Some videos are even fake. Many are claimed to be fake by the manufacturer of that lock :D

Finally here is a short list of companies which I personally think make good locks. Keep in mind that they all make locks with different levels of security and that this is only a very subjective opinion. It is only for general information and it's vague. It does not mean that only these companies make good locks, all it means is that I find these companies strive to make good locks and I find that they do.
Dom, Evva, Kaba, Gege, Abloy, Assa, Ikon, Keso, Mottura
Again: I am not personally affiliated with any of the companies.
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Re: Security with an emphasis on european locks

Postby YouLuckyFox » 1 Jul 2013 22:05

A well and thorough guide, AG. Such advice from you has been a goldmine :D .
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Re: Security with an emphasis on european locks

Postby ARF-GEF » 2 Jul 2013 5:29

Thanks :)
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Re: Security with an emphasis on european locks

Postby beancurd » 2 Jul 2013 7:33

Brilliant guide. I didn't know about the protruding euro cylinder locks being easy to break. It seems to be quite common to have them protruding.
The worst culprit for helping intruders is garden furnature! Most people lock their tools away, but leaves a plastic chair and table in the garden!
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Re: Security with an emphasis on european locks

Postby ARF-GEF » 2 Jul 2013 8:02

Sometimes people also have wooden rack on the walls (for plants, like ivy or woodbine) and they too may function as a ladder :)

As for the euro profile, this is how it should NOT be installed:
Image

Also it might be sensible to make sure that valuables like laptops, money, handbags, jewellery can't be seen from the window.
(Same is true for cars as well.)

(Thanks again :) I'm happy it's useful for people)
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Re: Security with an emphasis on european locks

Postby snake_wrangler » 3 Jul 2013 14:03

I don't know how well it works (I live in the United States, land of the Mortise Cylinder), but many Euro Profile locks come in special break-away cylinders which still provide some protection even if the lock is snapped.

Would that be something worth getting?
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Re: Security with an emphasis on european locks

Postby dicey » 4 Jul 2013 16:10

If you use more than one lock it might be a good idea to use different types, to avoid all lock having the same weakness and forcing the criminals to have a broader expertise.


You were talking about a government installation or a prison right? Or maybe a person with A LOT A money? :P
In companies yes. For normal households better not. But he is right it will make it more secure.

Make sure the door handle is cannot be easily taken off. Some are only fixed with 2 Philips' screws which can be screwed out in a few seconds. That can leave the locking mechanism exposed to attacks.
Security door fittings are recommended.


Certified shields to ES standard are being anchored from the inside or with special anchors. The picture of the shield is a shield made by a company called DRUMM. I have met the company owner Mr. Drumm on the security fair in Essen. Nice person. They only have one certified shield (ES1), the others are not certified yet but even without certification far stronger then any other shield that I have seen so far. It all depends in the thickness of the anchoring screws and how many of them are being used. On a normal ES1 shield 2 x M6 screws are being used, better ones use M8 screws. (Or even bigger ones)

Thinking about the right shield you should also consider the right door. There is a European Certification for doors called “RC” Resistance Class and the tests are being conducted by the Germany VDS for example. Both the frame and the door have to be tested and certified as one piece. These standards also apply for windows. A decent door for a normal house hold would be a door that is certified to the RC2 standard with both straight and hooking locking bolts (Resistance Class 2). This door can either be fitted with an ES1 shield or an ES3 shield which would be the more secure choice. I would only recommend a DRUMM shield in areas with a lot a criminals and vandalism problems. FSB is a good company for ES certified shields. A door certified to the RC2 class should also include P4A security glass (EH1 conforming to the VDS). Keep in mind that a DRUMM shield could also attract attention by professionals.

Key control is more important for companies or wealthy people with house holders, but keeping a close eye on your keys can never hurt and is overall a good idea!

Actually windows are VERY common here in Europe; you should take a look at the proper statistics. Windows can easily be opened with a screw driver if they do not have Mushroom locking bolts. A secure window should have at least 5-10 mushroom locking bolts and also be certified to the RC standard. A window certified to the RC2 standard is very secure for a private household. RC2N would be without P4A security glass and RC2 would be with P4A security glass.

There is also a certification from the VDS for alarm systems. There are 3 classes, class A, B and C. While C is being bank grade and B for jewelers or rich people A is more for the private consumer. A good alarm system can be expensive but very useful when it comes to detecting forced entry or entry attempts. Cameras is a difficult topic at least here in Germany. You are only allowed to film your private grounds and thieves often continued what they were doing knowing they are being filmed and just did not care.

Good text Arf keep up the good work my friend, I just tried to add some information! :)
My name is Adrian Weber and I am a private Security Adviser with a CFPA certificate in Security and Security Management.

Adrian Weber - Security Elements YT Channel:
http://www.youtube.com/user/diceman1367?feature=mhee
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Re: Security with an emphasis on european locks

Postby GWiens2001 » 4 Jul 2013 16:48

Thank you for the additional information, Dicey. It brings up several good points, namely doors, frames, windows, and that too good a lock or shield can attract attention from professional thieves who would otherwise have passed by your place looking for 'tastier' targets.

The last part is brought up time and again by those asking what kind of padlock they should use. Too flashy a lock says there is something worth stealing inside. A decent Ruko, which is still quite secure, does not draw nearly the attention as an ABLOY.

Gordon
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Re: Security with an emphasis on european locks

Postby Squelchtone » 4 Jul 2013 17:10

GWiens2001 wrote: Too flashy a lock says there is something worth stealing inside.

Gordon



I've never agreed with this personally, but I know what you're saying. I still like to put it on the list of other things people say about locks such as "if a bad guy wants to get in, they'll get in" (I totally disagree with that one, I think there are steps one can take to stop an average burglar from breaking into one's house or property) or "I don't even lock my door, the insurance company wont pay for a new door in a break in"

I had a public storage unit at one of these outdoor facilities with aisles and aisles of unmarked doors with every kind of padlock imaginable hanging from them, and I would hate to lock up my classic car or harley and put a Master lock gym locker padlock on the hasp, but to your point, as I drove down the aisles, and noticed shrouded shackle Medeco padlocks, I could tell who had a classic car or motorcycle in their unit and wanted to keep them safe.

I'd rather put a nicer padlock on my shed/storage unit/locker and make the bad guy work for it. Perhaps something as chromed out and shiny as an Abloy, I would spray paint flat black or wrap gaff tape around it to mute it out.

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Re: Security with an emphasis on european locks

Postby dicey » 4 Jul 2013 18:05

The Anchor Las Padlocks have a nice dull finish, not to shiny but also not the opposite :)
My name is Adrian Weber and I am a private Security Adviser with a CFPA certificate in Security and Security Management.

Adrian Weber - Security Elements YT Channel:
http://www.youtube.com/user/diceman1367?feature=mhee
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Re: Security with an emphasis on european locks

Postby fgarci03 » 4 Jul 2013 19:06

Squelchtone wrote:I've never agreed with this personally, but I know what you're saying. I still like to put it on the list of other things people say about locks such as "if a bad guy wants to get in, they'll get in" (I totally disagree with that one, I think there are steps one can take to stop an average burglar from breaking into one's house or property) or "I don't even lock my door, the insurance company wont pay for a new door in a break in"


Well what I think that the "if a bad guy....." means is not "I won't do anything about it". At least the way I use it.
My line of thought is like "If a bad guy wants to get in, he will. BUT, if he does want, he needs to want it really bad!". As we all agree, no system is perfect, what means that someone who is fierce at what they aim (like Squelchtone searching the web HAHA :mrgreen: ), it is possible to get through it.

The "I don't even lock my door" part is, IMO, just insane. Next step would be to give away all his stuff because if someone wants to steal it, they would.


I agree with the not using something really "shinny". Not that I would prefer less security over shinny locks, but if there's a chance it will call less attention. I mean, you are using an Abloy Protect to lock your shed, I'm an honest guy but I guarantee I would kick the door down just to see what's inside (since I wouldn't be able to open or break the lock that is :P).

The painting or in any other way, disguising the cromed of the lock is a good idea. It would actually lead to believe the padlock is crap!

This topic is getting hotter :mrgreen:
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Re: Security with an emphasis on european locks

Postby dicey » 4 Jul 2013 19:33

The "I don't even lock my door" part is, IMO, just insane. Next step would be to give away all his stuff because if someone wants to steal it, they would.


There is a VERY small town just 2km from my place, my carpenter has his place there. It is so peaceful and quiet. Believe it or not the people do not lock their doors there, or lets say they rarely lock them. I think they lock them when they go away shopping and stuff. I took bill there (bosnianbill) and he said he feels very secure there just because it is in the middle of nowhere and everyone knows each other :)
No guns, no locks, nature forest and the birds.
My name is Adrian Weber and I am a private Security Adviser with a CFPA certificate in Security and Security Management.

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Re: Security with an emphasis on european locks

Postby fgarci03 » 4 Jul 2013 19:42

Haha!

You are so right!
I was talking about regular city life, but that's a very true scenario too. My girlfriend's family is from a village and they do that too!
Actually they lock the doors and leave the keys hanging from the outside!

And there are no robbings there.

On the last few times they started to be a little more carefull, as there are more and more stories of people going to villages and taking advantage of the honesty of old people. But still nothing happened there fortunately.


This is unrelated, but since the new 5€ bills came out, there were many old folks who got tricked into handing their old bills to the "bank guys" and be left with a credit note to have the new bills delivered to them in a few days.


Back to the topic. I do agree with key control being very important. Although it's not a very common way of break in (at least in here), it's not difficult to control your keys. So +1 to that.
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Re: Security with an emphasis on european locks

Postby ARF-GEF » 13 Jul 2013 14:51

I too agree with painting or disgusing nice locks (especially padlocks) as old and dirty though some paint. (Warning for the non-lock-fans: do not let any dirt get near the moving parts, especially the keyhole! :) )

I too konow places where they don't lock the doors but I aimed my guide at people who are in more danger and require some extra precations :)
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Re: Security with an emphasis on european locks

Postby dicey » 14 Jul 2013 9:09

Hey ARF where have you been mate?

I wrote you like 2 mails and did not get an answer yet. I was starting to get worried :P
Please let me know if you got the mails!
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