Householders in West Yorkshire are exposing themselves to crime because of the type of lock used in their uPVC doors.
Police in the county have issued an appeal for householders to get their uPVC door locks checked and replaced with bump and snap secure Euro Cylinder locks.
This follows an increase in break-ins where vulnerable and cheap Euro Profile locks have been forced. Burglars use a simple tool to smash the lock in a technique well known among criminals.
Around one-in-four burglaries in West Yorkshire involves the Euro Profile locks, which are widely used in uPVC doors, particularly older ones.
Neil Goldup, Chief Executive of CASAC (Community Action and Support Against Crime), said: "January is a bumper month for burglars and many people just don’t realise how vulnerable they are if they have these locks fitted.
“It’s incredibly easy for criminals to gain entry once they realise what type of lock is in the door.
“But here at CASAC we offer a free service across most of West Yorkshire to check a property and we have new fully-tested Euro cylinder locks.”
CASAC is an established West Yorkshire social enterprise that works with local people, the Police and other statutory agencies to improve community safety and is dedicated to reducing crime and the fear of crime.
Only 1% of repeat burglaries have breached the security measures fitted by CASAC Burglary Reduction.
In one hotspot area, burglary has effectively been eradicated due to a targeted approach between CASAC and West Yorkshire Police.
A West Yorkshire Police spokesman confirmed: "There has been an upsurge in ‘Euro-profile’ lock snap burglaries across the whole county. Over 20 percent of house burglaries in the Kirklees Division have been committed by offenders breaking such locks on UPVC doors.”
