Post Burglary Repair Guide for Homes and Shops

A burglary leaves more than a damaged lock. You may be facing a split door frame, a window that will not close, keys that have been taken, or a shopfront that cannot be left overnight. This post burglary repair guide sets out what to do first, what can wait, and how to make the property properly secure again without rushing into expensive changes that do not solve the real weakness.

Make the property safe before arranging repairs

If the intruder may still be nearby, or you feel unsafe, move to a secure place and call the police. Do not enter alone to check rooms, cupboards or outbuildings. Once police have confirmed it is safe, avoid touching damaged doors, windows, tools or items that may hold evidence until they have advised you otherwise.

Take clear photographs of the damage when you can. Photograph the whole door or window as well as close-ups of the lock, frame, glass, hinges and any marks around the opening. This gives your insurer a useful record and helps a locksmith understand what has failed before arriving.

The immediate job is to restore a secure boundary. A door that only shuts but does not lock is not secure. Neither is a window with a snapped handle, a loose hinge or damaged glazing. If you cannot lock the property, arrange emergency attendance rather than trying to make do overnight with furniture against the door.

For a flat or house, tell the landlord or managing agent as soon as possible if you are a tenant. In a commercial premises, notify the keyholder, insurer and any alarm monitoring company. A business may also need to consider staff access, cash storage and whether stock can safely remain on site.

First priorities in a post burglary repair guide

A proper repair starts by dealing with the opening used to gain entry, then checking every other likely access point. Burglars often test more than one door or window, even where only one has been forced.

A locksmith or security repair specialist should look at the full assembly, not just fit a new cylinder and leave. On a timber door, the lock may be intact but the keep, strike plate or frame may have split. On a UPVC door, the handle, euro cylinder, multipoint mechanism and alignment can all be involved. Replacing one part without correcting the rest can leave the door difficult to lock or easy to force again.

The most urgent problems tend to be:

• a door or window that cannot be closed and locked

• broken glass or an exposed opening

• a damaged frame, jamb, hinge or locking keep

• stolen keys, fobs or access cards

• a lock that now turns, sticks or fails to engage correctly

Temporary boarding can be the right answer where glass, a panel or a door leaf is too badly damaged for a same-day permanent repair. It is not a substitute for a proper repair, but it can make the property safe while replacement parts, glazing or joinery are arranged.

Change locks when keys or access details are compromised

If keys were stolen during the burglary, treat every lock those keys could open as compromised. That includes the front and back door, side gate, garage, shed, communal entrance fob and sometimes a relative's or neighbour's property if the keys were clearly labelled.

Changing only the visibly damaged lock may be enough when there is no chance that keys were taken or copied. If a keyring, handbag, wallet, work pass or documents showing the address were stolen, replacement is usually the safer choice. It is a relatively small decision compared with the worry of not knowing who may have a working key.

For doors with euro cylinders, consider an anti-snap cylinder of an appropriate security standard. These are designed to reduce the risk of a common forced-entry method. The cylinder must still be fitted to the correct length and sit properly within the handle and door - an unsuitable projection can create another weakness.

Do not overlook letterboxes and thumbturn locks. A lock can be good quality but still vulnerable if someone can reach through a nearby letterbox and operate the inside thumbturn. The right solution depends on the door layout, fire escape requirements and who needs quick exit from the property.

Repair the door, frame and hardware as one system

Forced entry damage is often structural. A cracked timber frame can spread behind a new strike plate. Screws pulled from soft or damaged timber will not hold well if they are simply replaced in the same holes. A lasting repair may need the damaged section cut out and rebuilt, reinforced, or fitted with a suitable repair plate and longer fixings into sound material.

For composite and timber doors, check the hinges, lock keeps, handles, edge of the door and frame as well as the cylinder. A door that has been kicked or shouldered can go out of square. If it needs lifting to lock, catches on the frame or leaves a large gap at one side, adjustment or carpentry work may be needed before fitting new security hardware.

UPVC doors need a slightly different approach. Their multipoint locking mechanisms depend on correct alignment. If the door has dropped, the hooks, rollers or bolts may not engage fully even though the handle lifts. A specialist should assess the mechanism, keeps, hinges and door alignment, then repair or replace the failed part rather than forcing the handle and causing further damage.

The same applies to bifold doors. Their locking points, shootbolts, gearing and track alignment all affect security. A replacement handle alone is rarely the full answer when the door has been forced or will not close evenly.

Check windows, rear access and weak secondary doors

Once the main entry point is secure, inspect windows and less obvious doors. Rear doors, side gates, basement windows, patio doors and outbuildings are frequently overlooked after the immediate shock has passed.

Check that window handles lock, keys are available, hinges are not bent and the sash closes tight against the frame. A UPVC window with a faulty espagnolette locking mechanism may look shut while leaving one side unsecured. If glazing has cracked, do not rely on tape alone. Board the opening or arrange glazing work promptly, especially where the window can be reached from ground level.

For shops, pay particular attention to roller shutters, aluminium doors, rear fire exits and glass panels beside the locking side of a door. Fire exits must remain usable from inside, so security improvements have to be planned around safe escape. This is one reason generic online advice can be risky - the right lock for a domestic side door may not be appropriate for a commercial exit.

Choose upgrades based on how entry was gained

A burglary can make people feel they need to replace everything. Sometimes that is justified, but often the best result comes from correcting the exact failure and adding one or two sensible improvements.

If the cylinder was snapped, a correctly fitted anti-snap cylinder may be the priority. If the frame split, reinforced keeps, a frame repair and stronger fixings matter more than a premium cylinder alone. If a window was forced, locking handles and repairs to the mechanism may be needed. If access was gained through an unlocked door or window, the useful change may be routine as much as hardware: check locks before leaving, keep keys out of sight, and ensure everyone knows how to secure the property.

Visible security can be useful, but it should be proportionate. Door viewers, external lighting, an alarm and a properly fitted door chain or limiter can all help in the right setting. Avoid adding hardware that creates problems with daily use, restricts escape in an emergency or encourages people to leave a door unlocked because it has become awkward to operate.

Get clear information for your insurer

Most insurers will want a crime reference number, photographs, a description of the damage and invoices for emergency work. Keep all paperwork, including a written note of what was repaired and which locks were changed. If the property was temporarily boarded, keep the invoice for that as well as the permanent repair.

You do not usually need to wait for an insurer before making an unsafe property secure. Insurers generally expect reasonable action to prevent further loss. However, if extensive replacement work is needed, ask what evidence they require and do not throw away damaged components until you have checked.

Be wary of anyone who cannot explain why a part needs replacing, will not discuss options, or quotes a low call-out price before adding unexpected charges on arrival. After a burglary, straightforward advice matters. You should understand what is temporary, what is permanent, and what is genuinely needed to secure the property.

When to call for urgent local help

Call for emergency repair if you cannot lock up, glass is broken, the frame is split, keys have been stolen, or the door is unsafe to use. Clapham Locksmiths can assess locks, UPVC mechanisms, doors, frames and windows on site, which is often quicker than arranging separate trades for each part of the damage.

The aim is not to make your home or business look like a fortress. It is to restore a secure, reliable entrance that closes properly every day - and lets you get back to feeling comfortable when you turn the key.