3 Telling Signs your Locks have been Tampered with
Unfortunately, there are still around 200,000 burglaries reported in the UK each year. Keeping your home safe and secure is an important maintenance job to ensure your safety and security. If you’ve landed here, you might wonder how to tell if someone has tried to break into your house. Our blog highlights the most common ways a burglar may tamper with your locks and how to spot it!
1. Lock Picking
If you have noticed new tiny scratches around the keyhole, it might be a sign that a burglar has tried to pick your locks. These scratches will be finer than any scratches that may have been caused by your keys.
These tiny scratches may be caused by an attempt to pick your locks. Lock picking consists of using small tools to manipulate the inner part of the lock until it catches and the lock turns.
2. Lock Snapping/Bumping
If your key is suddenly hard to get in lock or you have difficulty turning the key, you may have been a target of lock snapping or lock bumping. These techniques involve striking the lock to snap the lock or to release the tumblers which renders it useless. This is more commonly found in euro cylinder locks that are typically on a uPVC door.
3. Damaged Lock or Door
If there are obvious signs of damage to your door, the door handle, or the lock it could be a sign that a burglar has used brute force to try and get into your home. Brute force attempts might also leave paint circles around the lock fixture from loosening and tightening the lock, bent latches, and warping on your door frame.
How to Prevent Lock Tampering
Fortunately, there are a number of ways to improve the security of your locks and your home to prevent these burglar methods and provide you with some peace of mind.
1. Upgrade to Anti-Snap High Security Locks
A quick and cost-effective way to improve your home security is to upgrade your locks to anti-snap locks. Our Locksmiths are highly trained and efficient in installing anti-snap locks, if you need our services give us a call on 0808 164 2928.
2. Install Smart Locks
Smart locks are another great alternative to upgrade the security of your locks to prevent burglar attempts. They are slowly becoming more prominent on the security market for residential properties.
3. Upgrade your Home Security
Another way you can prevent a burglar from even attempting to target your property is to improve your overall home security. A burglar most likely will pass by your home if they spot further security measures such as outdoor lighting, security cameras, burglar alarm etc.
Keytek® Locksmiths
Our Locksmiths will complete a FREE home security check on all jobs if you require it. Give us a call on 0808 164 2928 to speak to one of our team members to start your home security journey today!
Jessica Davies
Jessica brings over six years of specialised expertise to Keytek's comprehensive UK location guides, combining meticulous research with genuine local insight. As the architect behind Keytek’s area profiles, she delivers essential intelligence on house prices, crime statistics, schools, and community character—everything you need to know about the city or town.
Armed with a photography degree from the University of Brighton and an exhibited portfolio, Jessica approaches each location asking, "What would it be like to live here?" This perspective transforms dry statistics into lived experience, revealing not just what places cost, but what they truly offer.
Since 2019, Jessica has partnered with Keytek®'s security professionals, weaving real-world safety expertise into every guide. Her work addresses practical realities: Is this neighbourhood genuinely safe? What security considerations matter? How does local infrastructure support daily life?
From bustling cities to quiet villages, Jessica's field research uncovers authentic local character. Her commitment to accuracy and on-the-ground investigation has established her as a trusted voice—helping people navigate different locations across the UK and home security with complete confidence.
