Brendan Hughes

Ours just jammed. I say "just" - Saturday morning, actually

It's a huge, chunky, bolt-on-the-inside-of-the-door lever deadlock (uses an old-fashioned sort of key). Very popular here in Portugal, don't know why. As it pushes a steel bar up to a catch above and down to a hole in the floor, as well as four bolts across the gap, it's pretty difficult to force the door open. I haven't a clue how easy/difficult it is to pick.

We haven't changed the lock since we moved here, and have no idea how many people have keys, so I don't mind buying a new one. Can anyone suggest whether or not I'd be better to get a newer version of the same one, or to go for a modern Yale/Chubb/ingersoll type key (pin tumbler?), which probably looks weaker but might be more difficult to pick? Given the nature/position of the front door, I'm really not concerned about someone trying to kick it down...

Cheers

Brendan