Most break-ins via a front door don't involve picking the lock — they involve forcing it. Either the lock is jemmied, the door is kicked open, or the cylinder is snapped. A door is only as secure as the weakest point in the system, so here's what matters and what doesn't.
Anti-snap cylinders
Cylinder snapping is the most common break-in technique for euro-profile locks. The attacker grabs the protruding part of the cylinder with mole grips, snaps it, and turns the broken stub to unlock the door — typically inside 30 seconds.
Anti-snap cylinders have a sacrificial section: if you snap them, the broken bit comes away without releasing the lock. Every door we fit ships with a 3-star (TS 007 Kitemark) anti-snap cylinder as standard. If a quote doesn't mention this, walk away.
Multi-point locking
A multi-point lock engages 3–5 hook bolts or shoot bolts spaced down the height of the door when you lift the handle. It massively increases the effort needed to lever the door open. Single-point locks (one deadbolt, no shoot bolts) are no longer fitted on any reputable installation.
Hinge bolts and security pins
If the lock side is strong, the hinge side becomes the weak point. Decent doors fit hinge bolts — steel pins that engage when the door closes, so even if the hinges are knocked off, the door can't be levered free.
Frame fixings
The strongest lock in the world is useless if the frame is screwed to crumbling render. A proper install uses 150mm structural fixings into solid brick at multiple points around the frame.
Cowboy installers use 60mm fixings — fast to drive, weak when it matters. Always ask what length fixings are spec'd into the install. We use 150mm into solid brick as standard.
Glazing
If your door has glass, the glass itself is part of the security equation. Toughened glass to BS 6206 is mandatory; laminated glass (a sandwich with a plastic interlayer) is harder to break through and we recommend it on ground-floor doors.
What the certifications mean
PAS 24
British standard for enhanced security performance of door sets. Independently tested for resistance to manual attack — levering, kicking, ramming. Every door we make is tested to this standard.
Secured by Design
Police-approved accreditation that takes PAS 24 and adds requirements around installation. Our doors qualify; ask your installer whether theirs do.
Kitemark TS 007 (3-star)
Specific to cylinder locks — the 3-star rating is the highest, meaning anti-snap, anti-bump, anti-pick. Anything less is not appropriate for a front door.
Things that don't matter as much as you'd think
- Number of locking points beyond 3. Five is fine; seven is marketing.
- Door weight. Composite doors are all heavier than uPVC — the difference between brands is negligible.
- Multi-point handle style. The mechanism is what matters, not the look of the handle.
Frequently asked
Will a more expensive door be more secure?+
Not directly. Once you have PAS 24, a 3-star cylinder, multi-point locking, and a proper install, you're at the top of the security ladder for a domestic door. Above that, price reflects looks and colour, not security.
What's the weakest point of a typical front door?+
The cylinder, almost always. Get that right (3-star, anti-snap) and you remove the most common attack vector. After that, the frame fixings.
Does insurance care about door security?+
Many home insurers offer discounts for Secured by Design doors — worth asking when you renew.