French doors locked - how to open without damage?

On these "don't pay we'll take it away" programmes locksmiths seem to make a good job of unlocking doors without a key.

Is there enough of the pin end of the hinges sticking out to be able to cut it off with an angle grinder? That should enable a door to be removed, provided there are no additional security devices.

That would be my choice. I've had to call in a locksmith on a couple of occasions and it is bit worrying just how easily they opened a locked door. Also, if the doors get damaged the locksmith should be insured.

Colin Bignell snipped-for-privacy@bignellremovethis.me.uk> wrote

Have you ever asked them 'how do I avoid it being so easy to open by someone who knows what they are doing' ?

Call a locksmith.

The answer would probably be to buy much more expensive locks. I have high security locks on my house, but the call outs were elsewhere. One was for a five pin Yale night latch and the other a jammed Euro cylinder lock that he drilled out.

JOOI did the previous owner offer any explanation for the lack of key?

If some wants to get in expensive locks will not stop them. The thief isn't too worried about leaving your property in good condition when he kicks in or uses a wrecking bar on your door or smashes a window. Just look at the replacement (blanking) panels for for double glazed plastic back doors. Foam sandwiched between two thin (<1mm) plastic sheets.

You can get reinforced panels with an additional MDF layer

Any other mortice locks in the flat - perhaps a common key.

There are several locks that look the same brand/model. Each has a separate key.

He's only just moved in. Waiting for an estate agent response now.

Security is not really about stopping a determined thief from getting in. The Hatton Garden robbery shows that a concrete vault won't do that. An important part of security is making your house a less attractive prospect than any of your neighbours. Provided the security is not too OTT, which could suggest that there are valuables in the house, a good lock will imply other security measures and is likely to get them to move on to an easier target.

My back door is 44mm timber, with a 15mm ply lower panel (replacing the original 9mm) and a laminated glass upper panel. It has rack mortice bolts top and bottom and dog bolts on the hinge side.

I sorted this when the ex lost the keys to one door - or rather some decent builders and carpenters sorted it - by sawing through the tenon from the inside, where the woodwork was protected by the striker plate, using IIRC a reciprocating hacksaw.

Angle grinder is too wide a kerf - causes damage to the door.

In essence, without the key, you are going to replace the lock anyway, unless you know a locksmith who can pick the lock, so no issues with wrecking the lock, but try to avoid wrecking the woodwork

A cheapo one to do that job in an hour or so is under 40 quid at screwfix. A new lock is similar in price

Its all a matter of cost. I think a cheap reciprocating saw costs less than a locksmith, and you end up with another DIY tool .

Unless the locksmith can also supply you with a set of keys to open it, and save the cost of a new lock, it's probably less cost effective.

get a discount for the fact they lost the key. Seriously though, should it not be possible to get a new key made if you can tell who made the lock. Locksmiths seem quite often to be able to get doors open without an angle grinder!

Brian

So why are french doors so called? Brian

Because just like with French letters and French kissing, they open wide to let you in.

Possibly not if you have access inside and you can open the door a little bit to give more clearance. Maybe wet the area down so the sparks generated while grinding don't burn the surface of the wood.