Jemmying

Jemmying, “palanqueo” in Spanish, is forcing a door with a jemmy or a crowbar wedged between the leaf and the frame, to apply force and overcome the lock. It is one of the oldest methods and still works on doors with a single locking point and weak frames.

It leaves clear signs: tool marks on the edge of the door and on the frame, splintered wood or bent metal, and the strike plate torn off or twisted.

What makes it harder is spreading and reinforcing the locking:

• Multipoint locks, which lock at several points at once.
• Additional security bolts.
• Hinge bolts, which stop the leaf being taken out on the hinge side.
• Reinforced frames and firmly anchored strike plates.

If you have already suffered a jemmying attack, the frame and the strike plate usually need repairing as well as the lock. We explain the options under door reinforcement and security cylinders.