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Locksmith terms explained — Winchester glossary

Master Locksmiths Association(MLA)

The UK trade body whose approved companies are vetted, inspected and DBS-checked. Because the trade itself is unregulated, MLA approval is doing the work a licence would do in other trades — and a call-centre "locksmith" with a local-sounding number often has neither.

BS 3621

The British Standard for thief-resistant locks, identified by the kitemark on the faceplate. Most home insurance policies specify it for final exit doors, and a non-compliant lock can be grounds to reduce a burglary claim.

TS007 3-Star(TS007)

The rating system for euro-cylinder locks against snapping, the most common forced entry method on uPVC doors. Three stars is achieved by a 3-star cylinder alone, or a 1-star cylinder paired with 2-star security handles.

Lock Snapping(Snapping)

Breaking a euro cylinder at its weak centre point to defeat a uPVC door in seconds. Older cylinders are vulnerable and the upgrade is inexpensive — it is the single highest-value security change on most homes.