Locks After a Break-In: What to Do in the First 48 Hours

Coming home to a forced door or a smashed window is upsetting. Alongside the loss, many people feel their home no longer feels safe. The good news is that most of what needs doing in the first two days is practical and manageable. This guide walks through the order of things, from the first phone call to the security changes worth making once the dust settles.

Step one: make sure you are safe

If you arrive home and think someone may still be inside, do not go in. Move somewhere safe and call 000. If the break-in has clearly already happened and nobody is there, call the police on 131 444 to report it, or 000 if it is an emergency.

Try not to touch anything until police have attended. Door handles, window frames and damaged locks can hold fingerprints or other evidence. Take photographs of everything from a distance before anything is moved.

Step two: report it and start an insurance claim

The police will give you an event or report number. Your insurer will ask for it. Call your insurer as soon as you can, even if you are not sure you will claim. Most policies require prompt notification.

Ask your insurer:

• Whether they have preferred repairers or will reimburse your own locksmith.
• Whether they want damaged parts kept.
• Whether your policy requires particular locks, such as deadlocks or keyed window locks.

That last question matters. Some policies reduce or refuse claims if required locks were not fitted or not locked, so it is worth knowing for the future.

Step three: secure the property the same day

Once police have finished, the priority is to make every door and window lockable before night. This is where an emergency locksmith helps.

Common jobs on the day of a break-in include:

• Refitting a torn-out strike plate. When a door is kicked, the frame often splits around the strike. It can be reinforced or temporarily secured so the door locks.
• Replacing a damaged cylinder. If a lock has been forced, drilled or snapped, the cylinder may need replacing.
• Securing a broken window. Glaziers handle glass, but a locksmith can secure the frame or fit a temporary lock.
• Rekeying if keys were taken. If a spare key, car keys or a bag with keys was stolen, rekey the locks so they stop working.

When you call us on 03 4422 2837, tell us exactly what was damaged. We give you the price before dispatching and work out the quickest way to make the property secure.

Step four: check every entry point

Burglars often test several doors and windows before finding one that gives. Walk around the whole property and check:

• Every external door locks and deadlocks properly.
• Strike plates are firm and screws are tight.
• Sliding doors cannot be lifted out of their tracks.
• Ground-floor windows lock.
• Side gates close and latch.
• The garage door and the internal garage access door both lock.

Anything loose, broken or stiff should be repaired. Our lock repair service handles most of these quickly.

Step five: think about how they got in

Understanding the point of entry tells you where to spend money. In most break-ins the entry is one of these:

Through a door

Doors are usually forced at the strike plate rather than at the lock itself. A deadbolt with a reinforced strike plate, fixed with long screws into the wall framing, is far harder to force.

Through a sliding door

Older aluminium sliding doors can sometimes be lifted from their tracks or have weak catches. Anti-lift blocks and keyed bolts fix this cheaply. See our guide to sliding door security.

Through a window

Unlocked or poorly latched windows at the back and side of houses are a common route. Keyed window locks mean the glass must be broken to get in, which is noisy and risky for an intruder.

With a key

If there was no damage, someone may have had a key. Think about who has had keys: former tenants, tradespeople, cleaners, or a spare hidden outside. Rekey every external lock.

Sensible upgrades after a break-in

After a break-in it is natural to want everything upgraded at once. A better approach is to fix the point of entry first, then work through the most valuable improvements. A security locksmith assessment gives you a prioritised list. Typical priorities:

1. Deadbolts with reinforced strikes on every external door.
2. Secondary locks and anti-lift protection on sliding doors.
3. Keyed locks on ground-floor windows, especially at the back.
4. A solid lock on the internal garage access door.
5. Keyed gate locks on side access.
6. Restricted keys if you want tight control over copies.

Lighting, alarms and cameras also help, and many people add them after a break-in. Locks are the physical barrier those systems rely on.

Looking after yourself

A break-in can leave people anxious at home for weeks. Victims of Crime support is available through the Victorian Government's Victims of Crime Helpline on 1800 819 817. Talking it through helps, and so does knowing your home is genuinely more secure than before.

What we will not do

• We will not tamper with evidence before police have attended.
• We will not sell you upgrades out of fear. We explain what matters most and why.
• We will not leave a door that cannot be locked overnight without telling you the options.

Businesses after a break-in

For shops and offices the steps are similar: police, insurer, then securing the premises before close. Businesses should also rekey any locks whose keys may have been taken and review who holds keys. Our commercial locksmith service can secure premises after hours.

A checklist for the first 48 hours

• Call 000 or 131 444 and get a report number.
• Photograph all damage before touching anything.
• Notify your insurer.
• Call a locksmith to secure doors and windows.
• Rekey locks if any keys were taken.
• Check every entry point.
• Plan upgrades based on how entry was made.

Help in Burwood East and nearby

We are based at 50 Middleborough Rd, Burwood East, and secure homes and businesses across Burwood, Forest Hill, Vermont South, Blackburn South and Glen Waverley. Emergency work is available 24/7 on 03 4422 2837. For non-urgent upgrades, request a quote and we will arrange a visit during office hours.