How to choose a security lock or cylinder for an apartment in Israel

Lock or cylinder: what actually gets changed?

In most cases you change the cylinder, not the lock. On an Israeli steel security door (a “Pladelet”), the multi-point lock is a sturdy mechanism built into the door; the cylinder, the part you put the key into, is what burglars attack and what wears out.

These doors almost always use a European-profile cylinder, sometimes called a euro cylinder. That is good news: it can be swapped for a stronger model without touching the door. The lock case itself is only replaced when it is damaged, worn or very old, for example after a break-in or on an older door. Our lock replacement page covers both cases.

If you come from North America, note the difference: there is usually no separate deadbolt to upgrade. One cylinder controls all the bolts, so it is the single most important part of your door’s security.

What protection should a good cylinder have?

A good security cylinder combines several protections, each against a specific technique. Ask which of them the model you are offered really has.

Protection	What it stops	What to check
Anti-snap	The cylinder being snapped or pulled out with a tool	A sacrificial break line: the outer part breaks, the mechanism stays locked
Anti-pick	Quiet opening with thin tools, leaving no trace	Extra moving elements in the mechanism
Anti-bump	A “bump key” that jolts the pins open	Bump protection listed in the specification
Anti-drill	Drilling through the plug	Hardened steel inserts or pins
Protected key	Copies made without your knowledge	An owner’s card required for any copy
Emergency function	A key left in the lock on the inside	Opening from outside still possible

Snapping is the attack most associated with euro cylinders: a cylinder that sticks out of the door gives a tool something to grip. That is why anti-snap protection and the correct length come before everything else.

How do you know the cylinder is the right length?

The cylinder should sit flush with the door or its protective escutcheon, not stick out. Too long gives a tool something to grip; too short will not work properly.

1. Measure the old cylinder from the fixing screw on the edge of the door.
2. Measure the outside and inside halves separately: many cylinders are asymmetric.
3. Allow for the thickness of any escutcheon or cylinder guard (magen tsilinder).
4. If in doubt, let the locksmith fitting the cylinder take the measurement.

A steel escutcheon that covers the cylinder and leaves only the keyhole visible is an excellent partner for an anti-snap cylinder.

Who has your keys?

A cylinder is only as secure as your control over its keys. This is the most overlooked point.

• Moving in (buying or renting): change the cylinder. Previous occupants, agents, workers and neighbors may have kept a copy.
• New-build apartment: many people had access to the keys during construction and handover. Have the cylinder checked, or replace it.
• Protected keys: with a key control card, nobody can get a copy cut without presenting it. Keep the card safe and never store it with the keys.
• Count your keys once a year: family, cleaner, babysitter, neighbor. A key that has not come back is a good reason to change the cylinder.

Which level suits your door?

The type of door decides what is worth doing. There is no point fitting a top-end cylinder to a door that will give way somewhere else.

Type of door	What really improves security	Watch out for
Recent steel door with multi-point lock	High-security cylinder plus escutcheon	Cylinder length, how the escutcheon is fixed
Older steel door	New cylinder, check of the bolts and lock case	The frame, the hinges, wear in the lock
Solid wooden door (older building, service door)	An additional security lock or bolt	The strength of the wood and frame
Building entrance door	A decision for the va’ad bayit	Who has been given keys
Interior doors	A simple lock is enough; they are not security doors	Comfort and sound insulation

For interior doors, see our interior doors page (Jerusalem and the surrounding area).

What budget level should you aim for?

Prices vary with the model, length and number of keys, so think in levels rather than figures. Always ask for a quote that includes both the cylinder and the fitting.

Level	Who it suits	Features to look for
Essential	Renters, middle floors, buildings with a locked entrance	Anti-snap, basic anti-pick, correct length
Intermediate	Most families	Plus anti-drill, anti-bump, key control card, escutcheon
High	Ground floor, top floor, private house, valuables, after a break-in	Top EN 1303 grades, protected key profile, full check of the door

How do you read the EN 1303 rating?

The European standard EN 1303 grades cylinders with an eight-digit code. For security, the last two digits matter most: the seventh is key-related security (1 to 6, with 6 the best), the eighth is attack resistance (from 0 up to the top grade, D in the current version).

A cylinder tested to this standard is not automatically a very secure one; what counts is the grade it achieved. Ask for the technical sheet of the model you are offered and compare those two digits.

What about electronic and smart locks?

They replace keys with a code, a card or your phone, and some keep a log of who came in. They have limits too: batteries to watch, a mechanical backup cylinder that remains a point of attack, and compatibility to check with the lock in your steel door.

For families who keep Shabbat, an electronic lock also raises the question of how it will be used that day. If you are considering one, ask these questions before you buy.

What are the most common mistakes?

• Keeping the previous occupant’s cylinder after moving in.
• Buying a cylinder that is too long and sticks out of the door.
• Choosing on price alone without looking at the protections.
• Changing the cylinder while ignoring a damaged frame or hinges.
• Keeping the key card on the same ring or in the same drawer as the keys.

Get advice before you buy

SecureDoors Israel gives free advice on securing a door. Send a photo of your door and cylinder on WhatsApp to 055-508-8444 and we will tell you what is worth changing. See our security locks and cylinders, or read our guide on what to do after a break-in if your door has already been targeted. For anything else, use the contact page.