A break-in leaves more than a damaged lock. A door may no longer close properly, a uPVC mechanism may be strained, a window frame may be loose, and the feeling of safety can disappear quickly. This burglary repair checklist sets out what to do first, what evidence to protect, and how to make sure the repair actually secures the property rather than simply covering the visible damage.
1. Put safety ahead of the damage
If you believe someone may still be inside, do not enter the property. Move somewhere safe and call the police. If the incident has already happened and the property is empty, avoid touching door handles, broken glass, window frames or anything that may be needed as evidence.
Once the police have confirmed it is safe to do so, check whether the building can be secured. A front door that will not lock, an exposed rear window or a damaged patio door needs urgent attention, particularly overnight. Temporary boarding may be the right immediate answer where glass or a panel has been broken, but it should not become a substitute for a proper repair.
If children, older residents or vulnerable people are affected, consider whether they can stay elsewhere until the property is secure. That is not overreacting. A rushed night in an unsecured home is rarely the best option.
2. Report the burglary and record the crime number
Contact the police and obtain a crime reference number. Your insurer will usually ask for it before progressing a claim, and it creates a clear record of what has happened.
Take photographs of the damage before repairs begin, provided the police have not asked you to leave the scene untouched. Photograph the outside and inside of damaged doors and windows, lock cylinders, frames, glass, tool marks and any disturbed areas. Take wider photographs as well as close-ups, as these show where the damage sits in relation to the property.
Write down what you notice while it is fresh: when you last saw the property secure, how entry may have been gained, and which keys, documents or devices are missing. Do not guess if you are unsure. A factual record is more useful for both the police and an insurer.
3. Secure the main entry points first
The most urgent part of a burglary repair checklist is restoring secure access. Start with the point used to gain entry, then inspect every other door and accessible window. Burglars may damage more than one opening while attempting entry.
For doors, check whether the lock turns fully, the latch engages, the frame is split, or the hinges have been forced. Do not keep using a damaged lock because it appears to work once or twice. A cylinder can be compromised internally, and a bent multi-point mechanism may fail when the door is shut.
For windows, look for damaged handles, loose hinges, cracked glass, forced espagnolette locks and frames that no longer sit squarely. On uPVC doors and windows, visible damage is not always the full story. A forced handle can place strain on the gearbox or internal locking strip, leaving the unit unreliable even after a replacement handle is fitted.
Boarding up versus permanent repair
Boarding up is appropriate when a broken pane, door panel or frame opening leaves the property exposed. It prevents easy access and keeps out weather while replacement materials are arranged. However, boarding is temporary. The final repair should restore the strength of the opening, correct the cause of the failure and ensure it locks properly.
A skilled locksmith can often repair a damaged uPVC door by replacing the failed gearbox or multi-point locking mechanism and realigning the door, rather than recommending a complete replacement. That can save considerable cost, but it depends on the condition of the frame, door slab and keeps.
4. Change locks when keys or access are at risk
If house keys, labelled keys, key safes, access fobs or documents showing your address have been taken, change the relevant locks. Even if the burglary involved forced entry, you cannot know whether a key was copied or removed during the incident.
The right replacement depends on the door type and existing hardware. A euro-cylinder door may benefit from an anti-snap cylinder, especially where the old lock has been snapped, drilled or pulled. Timber doors may need a new mortice lock, rim cylinder or strengthened strike area. Communal entrances and commercial premises may require a wider review of who holds keys and whether a master-key arrangement needs to be altered.
Avoid fitting a lock solely because it is the cheapest available. Insurance requirements, the construction of the door and the quality of the surrounding frame all matter. A high-quality cylinder is worthwhile, but it cannot compensate for a loose keep, misaligned door or split frame.
5. Check the door and frame, not just the lock
A lock is only as secure as the door closes around it. After a burglary, inspect whether the door catches, drops on its hinges, rubs against the frame or needs lifting to lock. These can be signs that the door was forced or that an existing alignment issue has worsened.
On a multi-point locking door, lift the handle and confirm all locking points engage smoothly before turning the key. Do not force it. Forcing a stiff handle can damage the gearbox and leave the door locked shut or completely unsecured.
Timber frames deserve close attention too. A screw pulled from a keep or a small split around the strike plate may look minor, yet it weakens the area that resists a shoulder or tool attack. In some cases, a localised frame repair and security reinforcement is enough. If the frame is extensively split or rotten, more substantial joinery work may be needed.
6. Protect the insurance claim without delaying security
Tell your insurer about the burglary as soon as reasonably possible. Ask what they require before authorising permanent repairs, but do not leave the property insecure while waiting for an answer. Emergency work to make a home safe is usually the sensible first step.
Keep the crime reference number, photos, invoices and any written description of the work completed. Ask for clear wording that identifies the damage found, the temporary security measures used and the permanent repair carried out. This helps show that the work was necessary rather than an unrelated upgrade.
There can be a trade-off here. An insurer may contribute towards like-for-like reinstatement, while you may choose to pay the difference for an anti-snap upgrade, additional door reinforcement or better window security. That decision is personal, but a burglary is a sensible time to address weak points that would otherwise remain.
7. Review how the intruder got in
Once the immediate repair is complete, ask a practical question: what made entry possible? The answer may be obvious, such as a smashed window, but it can also be a poorly aligned patio door, an outdated cylinder, a rear gate with weak access control, or keys left in an easily reached place.
A proper review should include the front, side and rear of the property. Look at accessible windows, garden gates, sheds that contain tools, external lighting and any side passage that offers cover. You do not need to turn your home into a fortress. The aim is to remove easy opportunities and make forced entry more difficult, noisier and more time-consuming.
For landlords and property managers, the review should also cover key control. Confirm who has keys, retrieve sets from previous occupiers where possible, and change locks between tenancies or after an unauthorised entry. For business premises, consider whether staff access, shutter locks, stockroom doors and perimeter gates need separate attention.
8. Do not overlook emotional recovery
It is common to feel unsettled after a burglary, even once the repairs are finished. Give yourself time before deciding whether further measures, such as additional locks or smart access, are genuinely useful. Some improvements offer meaningful protection; others simply add cost and inconvenience.
Choose a locksmith who will explain what is damaged, what must be repaired now and what can be considered later. You should receive a clear quotation and practical advice, not pressure to replace a whole door when the lock, mechanism or alignment can be repaired.
If your home or premises in Bristol or South Gloucestershire has been damaged during a break-in, speak directly to a trusted local locksmith who can board up, re-secure and repair the underlying fault. Getting the job done properly the first time gives you one less thing to worry about when you need reassurance most.