The cylinder is the part of the lock where you insert the key. It is small, but it is the point many burglars try first. Three terms to know:
- Bumping. A special key, struck with an object, makes the cylinder's pins jump. A cylinder designed against bumping makes this attempt much harder.
- Picking. A thin tool that tries to move the pins one by one, the way the key would. A cylinder with special pins and extra mechanisms makes this slower and more complicated.
- Forced breaking. The cylinder is broken by force. A cylinder with a protected breaking point and a defender (see guide 2) makes this harder.
How to tell if yours is weak. If you don't know when it was fitted, if the key is very worn, or if the cylinder sticks out from the door, it is worth having it looked at. The brand and model tell you a lot.
What we suggest. A security cylinder suited to your door. We also supply Mottura, among others. You don't always need to change the whole lock: often the cylinder alone is enough. We'll tell you after seeing the door.
A figure to understand why it matters. According to ISTAT, in 28.6% of home burglaries the thief got in by forcing the door.