Sobado

Sobado is a Spanish slang word with no direct English equivalent. It is used for opening a lock by patient manipulation, feeling out the mechanism with a key or a tool until it gives, without breaking it. It is not a term found in standards or catalogues, and everyone uses it rather loosely: some apply it to lock picking and others to something closer to impressioning.

What these techniques have in common is that they leave no visible damage and depend on the play and weaknesses of the cylinder. That is why the defences are also shared: security pins and precise manufacturing, a protected key profile whose blanks are not freely sold, and additional locking elements.

If after an absence you notice the key goes in or turns differently, have the cylinder checked. In homes that stand empty for whole seasons, as so many do on the coast, a quality cylinder is the best defence. We point you in the right direction with our security cylinders.