Locksmith Greenwich

Greenwich & Blackheath Holiday Break-In Alert: Burglars Target Empty Homes by Snapping Handles — Upgrade Your Locks Now

![Snapped handle/lock used for entry – recent Greenwich call-out](/mnt/data/WhatsApp Image 2025-12-01 at 20.51.58_a5e37539.jpg)

![Snapped handle/lock used for entry – recent Greenwich call-out](/mnt/data/WhatsApp Image 2025-12-01 at 20.51.58_a5e37539.jpg)

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Rising break-ins across Greenwich, Blackheath, Kidbrooke & SE3 are hitting homes while owners are away on holiday. Offenders are using handle/lock-snapping on uPVC & composite doors. Learn how to protect your home with TS007 3-Star or SS312 Diamond cylinders, strong handles, and smart “away” tactics. Book a local, vetted locksmith assessment with Lockmaster1 Ltd.

What’s happening locally — and why you should care

In the past few weeks I’ve attended multiple call-outs in Greenwich and Blackheath where burglars have forced entry while the property was empty — families away on holiday, houses left unoccupied, or short-term absences. The photo above is from a recent job: offenders snapped the handle/cylinder and manipulated the mechanism to get in. It’s quick, quiet, and devastatingly effective on the wrong hardware.

Local agencies are signalling concern too. Royal Greenwich has pushed seasonal crime-prevention advice and noted the kinds of items commonly stolen from homes and gardens during festive periods. Empty homes and travel periods coincide with increases in offending. Royal Greenwich

Across London, police and councils routinely warn that holiday periods create ideal conditions for burglars and that offenders often work out who’s away by observing routines, social media, or other information leaks. There are even reports of criminals leaving tell-tale marks (like dirt or debris on thresholds) to test whether a property is occupied during school breaks. CCTV Aware+1

Closer to home, the Blackheath Westcombe Safer Neighbourhood Team lists burglary as an active local priority, with ongoing patrols and community engagement — another indicator that this modus operandi is on the radar locally. metengage.co.uk

The method: handle/lock-snapping on uPVC & composite doors

Many London homes have euro-profile cylinders in uPVC or composite doors. Standard or poorly-sized cylinders can be snapped and the lock then manipulated. That’s exactly what happened in the case above.

UK police and trade bodies recommend upgrading to tested standards that resist snapping, drilling, picking and bumping:

Many police-authored burglary guides also advise (for new/whole doors) aiming for PAS 24:2022 door-set security and pairing cylinders with robust, tested furniture. metengage.co.uk

Minimum spec I recommend (and fit)

If you do nothing else before your next trip away, do this:

  1. Front & back doors (uPVC/composite):

    • TS007 3-Star cylinder or SS312 Diamond cylinder.

    • If retaining a good 1-Star cylinder, add a 2-Star security handle/escutcheon and make sure the cylinder does not protrude past the handle plate. West Yorkshire Police Website

  2. Timber doors:

    • Fit British Standard nightlatch/deadlock combinations (BS 8621/BS 3621) with frame reinforcement (London/Birmingham bars) and hinge bolts, as widely advised by police security guidance. metengage.co.uk

  3. Door-set & install quality matters:

    • Correct cylinder length (flush with furniture), secure fixing screws, and properly aligned multi-point locking are essential. (Even a great cylinder under- or over-sized becomes a liability.) Guidance from DHF on TS007 underscores that modern locks must resist five attack types — snapping is just one of them. dhfonline.org.uk

“We’re away” — the new risk (and what to stop doing)

Police and crime-prevention partners repeatedly highlight how offenders work out that a home is empty: posts about holidays, predictable routines, piled-up post, dark/quiet fronts, and breadcrumbs from bookings or contractors. Some forces have warned about simple probes such as marks or dirt on the doorstep left to see if they’re disturbed. Don’t give criminals the signal that no one’s home. The Telegraph+1

Practical steps before you travel

  • Keep plans private. Be selective about who you tell, and don’t post dates publicly. If you must share with a company, confirm their data/privacy practices.

  • Timers & lighting. Use plug-in or smart timers to vary lights. Keep exteriors lit with motion sensors.

  • Gardens & post. Arrange a neighbour to move bins/post and keep frontage tidy.

  • CCTV/smart doorbells/alarms. Visible deterrents make most offenders choose an easier target. (Home-security advice regularly lists these among the top deterrents.) Ideal Home

  • Windows, sheds, side gates. Lock everything; bikes and tools are common theft targets in Greenwich’s own seasonal guidance. Royal Greenwich

Case study (real local job): what the offenders did — and how we fixed it

  • Target selection: Empty property while owners were away.

  • Attack: Offenders snapped the handle/cylinder, accessed the cam, and defeated the mechanism.

  • Remedy: We replaced the cylinder with a TS007 3-Star/SS312-equivalent anti-snap model, fitted 2-Star security handles, corrected cylinder length (flush), checked the multi-point gearbox engagement, and re-set keeps/strike plates.

  • Outcome: Smooth operation for the owner, substantially higher resistance to known attack methods, and an action list for further layered security.

Quick buyer’s checklist (so you don’t get sold the wrong thing)

  • Look for the marks:

  • Handle rating:

  • Correct size:

    • The cylinder should be flush with your handles — not sticking out.

  • Install quality:

    • Secure fixing screws, aligned keeps, and smooth multipoint throw.

  • Door-set option:

    • If your whole door is due an upgrade, ask about PAS 24:2022 compliant sets. metengage.co.uk

FAQs

“Is a 1-Star cylinder enough?”
Only if it’s paired with a 2-Star handle/escutcheon to reach the TS007 3-Star level of protection. Otherwise, upgrade the cylinder itself to 3-Star or SS312 Diamond. West Yorkshire Police Website

“What do police-backed standards actually mean?”
They’re independently tested against today’s real attack methods (snapping, drilling, picking, bumping, torque). TS007 3-Star and SS312 Diamond are the benchmarks for cylinders; many products are also Secured by Design (police preferred). Master Locksmiths Association+1

“Are summer/holidays worse?”
Yes. Multiple UK advisories note holiday spikes and higher risk when homes are left empty; school breaks and festive periods are common problem windows. CCTV Aware

Service area & rapid response

I’m a local Master Locksmith (OML) based in Greenwich (SE3), covering Greenwich, Blackheath, Kidbrooke, Eltham, Charlton, Lewisham, and surrounding SE postcodes. I supply and fit TS007 3-Star and SS312 Diamond cylinders, 2-Star security handles/escutcheons, and I carry out full door and frame security assessments.

  • Lock upgrades (anti-snap/anti-drill/anti-pick)

  • Multipoint lock servicing & gearbox replacement

  • PAS 24 door-set advice

  • Window and outbuilding security checks

  • Holiday proofing audit (before you travel)

Final word: treat absence as a security event

Right now in Greenwich & Blackheath, the pattern is clear: burglars are finding out when homes are empty and exploiting older cylinders. The fix is straightforward: upgrade the hardware, layer visible deterrents, and stop broadcasting your travel plans. If you’re away soon — act before you go.

Want a same-day assessment or quote?
Call Lockmaster1 Ltd — local, vetted, and focused on doing the job right first time.

Sources & further reading

  • Royal Borough of Greenwich seasonal safety advice noting theft patterns and prevention tips. Royal Greenwich

  • Met community alerts/briefings referencing PAS 24 door-sets and TS007 3-Star / SS312 Diamond cylinder guidance. metengage.co.uk

  • Police guidance on euro-cylinders and star ratings (TS007 & SS312), including handle ratings. West Yorkshire Police Website

  • Master Locksmiths Association FAQs on 3-Star cylinder protection & lock-snapping. Master Locksmiths Association+1

  • DHF explainer on TS007 and the attack types modern cylinders must resist. dhfonline.org.uk

  • Sold Secure on SS312 Diamond testing and why independent testing matters. soldsecure.com

  • Reports/advice highlighting holiday-period burglary tactics and seasonal spikes. The Telegraph+2CCTV Aware+2