How Criminals Actually Attack and Break Gates

Criminals often see gates as the first barrier to overcome, targeting weak locks, hinges, and structures. By understanding how these attacks happen, homeowners and businesses can better protect their properties. This guide explores common break-in methods and the best ways to reinforce gates against intruders.

Forced Entry with Physical Tools

Criminals often rely on basic tools to break through gates, exploiting weak points in locks, brackets, or frames. The most common methods include:

1. Crowbars and Pry Bars

   • Inserted between the gate frame and lock housing.
   • Used to apply leverage and force gaps wider.
   • Effective if welds or fittings are weak.
     

2. Bolt Cutters

   • Target exposed padlocks, chains, or thin bolts.
   • Poor-quality padlocks can be cut in seconds.
   • A major risk is when locks are external rather than welded in.
     

3. Hammers and Impact Tools

   • Blunt force is used against hinges, brackets, or lock housings.
   • Weak steel or corroded parts can quickly give way.

Key Takeaway:

• Gates with exposed fastenings or lightweight locks are especially vulnerable.
• The best defence is reinforced, weldable locks paired with heavy-duty brackets. These remove external attack points and make forced entry significantly more difficult.

Also read: 5 Steps to Improve Your Home’s Security

Attacking the Locking Mechanism

Beyond brute force, criminals often focus directly on the lock itself. If the locking mechanism is weak or poorly protected, it becomes the easiest entry point. Common attack methods include:

1. Lock Picking and Drilling

   • Standard cylinder locks are vulnerable to picking with basic tools.
   • Power drills can destroy lock barrels in minutes if not reinforced.
     

2. Weak Padlocks

   • Thin or low-grade padlocks can be twisted, snapped, or cut.
   • External padlocks are especially exposed to bolt cutters and saws.
     

3. Tampering with Screws and Bolts

   • Exposed fasteners allow intruders to unscrew or dismantle the lock housing.
   • Once the housing is compromised, the gate can be forced open with little effort.

Key Takeaway:

• The solution lies in weldable lock bodies, dual-layer lock-in-a-lock systems, and concealed fastenings. These designs prevent tampering and ensure that even if one layer is attacked, the secondary mechanism continues to secure the gate.

Also read: Top 6 Best Types of Security Gate Locks

Manipulating the Gate Structure

When criminals can’t bypass the lock directly, they often target the structure of the gate itself. Weak frames, hinges, or tracks become entry points that compromise security. Common methods include:

1. Lifting the Gate Off Its Track

   • Sliding gates without anti-lift brackets are easily raised off their rails.
   • Once removed, the entire gate can be pushed aside for access.
     

2. Forcing Hinges

   • Hinges made from thin steel or lacking reinforcements can be hammered, cut, or pried apart.
   • Rusted or poorly maintained hinges are even easier to compromise.
     

3. Cutting Through Bars or Frames

   • Criminals use saws, grinders, or other cutting tools on lightweight steel gates.
   • Gates with thin tubing or unreinforced welds can be breached quickly.

Key Takeaway:

• Protecting against these attacks requires reinforced brackets, heavy-duty hinges, and thicker steel frames. Combined with Ultralock’s weldable locks, these measures significantly increase the time and effort criminals often need to deter them completely.

Learn: Top 5 Mistakes Homeowners Make When Choosing Security Gates

Exploiting Environmental Weaknesses

Not all attacks are immediate. Many criminals take advantage of environmental weaknesses that slowly damage gates over time, making them easier to breach. Common vulnerabilities include:

1. Rust and Corrosion

   • Steel exposed to rain, humidity, or sea air weakens over time.
   • Rusted hinges, brackets, or locks can snap under pressure.
     

2. Neglected Maintenance

   • Loose wheels, misaligned tracks, and unlubricated hinges create gaps.
   • These weaknesses give intruders leverage points to force gates open.
     

3. Weather Damage

   • Heat and moisture cause steel gates to expand or warp.
   • Misaligned locks or swollen frames leave space for crowbars or pry bars.
     

Key Takeaway:

• Criminals often wait for these vulnerabilities to appear. The best defence is weather-resistant finishes, corrosion-proof coatings, and regular inspections to tighten, clean, and lubricate moving parts. A well-maintained gate eliminates weak points before criminals can exploit them.

Also read: Emergency Preparedness: Secure Your Gate Locks

How to Protect Your Gate

Knowing how criminals attack is only half the battle; taking steps to reinforce your gate is what truly keeps your property safe. The most effective protective measures include:

1. Install Weldable Locks

   • Unlike surface-mounted locks, weldable locks are built into the gate structure.
   • This removes exposed screws and bolts, leaving no easy tampering points.
     

2. Use Dual-Layer Systems

   • A lock-in-a-lock design ensures that even if the outer mechanism is compromised, the inner lock still holds.
   • This doubles the time and effort required for a criminal to gain entry.
     

3. Reinforce Brackets, Hinges, and Wheels

   • Heavy-duty fittings prevent lifting, prying, or cutting attacks.
   • Proper anti-lift devices on sliding gates are especially critical.
     

4. Commit to Regular Maintenance

   • Lubricate wheels and hinges, check for rust, and realign gates.
   • Routine care ensures criminals can’t exploit environmental damage.

Key Takeaway:

• Combining high-quality Ultralock products with consistent upkeep creates a gate system designed to resist, delay, and ultimately deter intruders.

Learn: What Is a Lock-In-a-Lock? Learn Dual-Layer Systems

Conclusion

Criminals use crowbars, bolt cutters, weak locks, and even weather damage to exploit gates, but these risks can be prevented. By choosing reinforced, weldable locks, strong brackets, and dual-layer systems combined with regular maintenance, you create a gate that resists tampering and provides lasting protection for your property.

Protect your property with Ultralock’s advanced weldable locks and reinforced gate solutions, designed to withstand real-world break-in methods. Don’t wait until criminals find a weakness. Contact us today for expert guidance, product details, and secure solutions tailored to your gate’s needs. Your safety starts with Ultralock.