Recent statistics have shown that around 76 per cent of domestic burglaries are made via a door with a forced lock and an unlocked door being the top two most common methods of door entry. Experts at Mul-T-Lock advise that to prevent unwanted access, homeowners should change locks as soon as possible after moving into a new home, and then again every five years, for added peace of mind.

The company says that getting in touch with a local locksmith before changing or upgrading locks can also save both time and money. Locksmiths approved by the Master Locksmiths Association (MLA) will be able to advise on security standards, as well as expert advice on quick and simple jobs that can make a big difference to the security of a home. For example, by changing the rim cylinder in a nightlatch, or the euro profile cylinder in a multipoint lock, a home can be secure in minutes, without the need to change the entire lock or door.

As the locksmithing industry is not government regulated, the MLA has created an approved and trusted list of locksmiths on its website www.locksmiths.co.uk. Homeowners can also find both MLA and Mul-T-Lock approved locksmiths from across the UK over on the Mul-T-Lock website www.mul-t-lock.co.uk.

When it comes to choosing which lock to opt for, Mul-T-Lock approved locksmiths champion the original, and the best – the Break Secure® 3DS euro profile cylinder.

This cylinder surpasses the British Standard Kitemark BS EN 1303:2015 test by over a million cycles and meets TS007 3 star standard as recommended by Secured by Design (the police preferred specification). Mul-T-Lock’s Break Secure® 3DS has also undergone rigorous independent testing by the MLA to meet the Sold Secure Diamond SS312 standard – offering the very best protection in lock security.

Mul-T-Lock’s Break Secure® 3DS cylinder offers three separate lines of defence to discourage even the most determined attack:

1. A sacrificial end – designed to snap to protect against lock-snapping; the most common form of entry to a property

2. Bump resistant – many cylinders can be easily ‘bumped’ (inserting and tapping an illegal key to release the cam and open the door), but the Break Secure® 3DS is proven to resist this

3. Drill resistant – engineered using high strength material and robust construction to withstand prolonged drilling

In addition to these lines of defence, the 3DS cylinder boasts anti-screw and anti-pick protection. Even after the cylinder has been attacked, the key or thumb turn remains operational, meaning homeowners can still get access in and out of a home while they wait for the lock to be fixed. For added convenience, local locksmiths can key-alike euro profile cylinders, so one patented key unlocks all external doors on a property.

Claire Blakemore, managing director for Mul-T-Lock UK comments, “Burglaries spike by as much as 25 per cent in the autumn and winter months. That’s why there is no better time to get in touch with local locksmiths, to gain invaluable knowledge and advice in order to keep homes across the UK secure throughout the upcoming dark nights.

“Our Break Secure® 3DS cylinder offers homeowners a key weapon in the battle against domestic break-ins. In fact, we are so confident that this product will offer maximum protection to a home, that we offer a full ten-year guarantee.”