Coming home to a forced door or a smashed window is upsetting in a way that is hard to describe until it has happened. On top of the shock, there is a long list of practical problems: is anyone still inside, who do I call, what can I touch, can I lock the house tonight, and how do I stop it happening again?
This guide takes you through the steps in order, from the first minutes to the weeks after. It is written for homes and small businesses around Lidcombe, Auburn, Berala, Regents Park, Homebush and Strathfield, but the advice applies almost anywhere.
Step 1: Make sure you are safe
If you arrive and see signs of a break-in, such as a forced door, broken glass or a window open that you left shut, do not go inside. The person responsible may still be there.
- Move somewhere safe, such as your car, a neighbour's house or a busy street.
- If you think someone is still inside, or anyone is hurt, call 000.
- If you are inside when you realise, and you think someone else is in the property, get out if you safely can, then call 000.
Nothing in the house is worth a confrontation.
Step 2: Contact the police
If the offender has gone and nobody is in danger, you can report the break-in to the NSW Police Force through the Police Assistance Line on 131 444, or as directed by police. They will tell you whether officers will attend and what to do in the meantime.
Ask for an event or report number. Your insurer will want it.
Step 3: Leave things as they are, if police ask
If police are attending, they may want to look at the point of entry and anything the offender touched. Until they say otherwise:
- avoid touching the forced door, lock or window;
- do not clean up broken glass near the entry point unless it is a safety hazard;
- take photographs of everything before anything is moved.
Once police tell you the scene is released, you can start securing and cleaning up.
Step 4: Photograph and list the damage
Take clear photos of:
- the door, frame, lock and strike plate, or window, where entry was made;
- any damage inside;
- empty spaces where items were taken.
Start a list of missing items. Include receipts, serial numbers or photos if you have them. This is tedious, but it makes the insurance claim far smoother.
Step 5: Call your insurer
Most home and contents policies have a claims line. Ask:
- what they need from you;
- whether they want to send an assessor before repairs;
- whether emergency repairs to make the property secure are covered and how to claim them;
- whether they have preferred tradespeople.
Most insurers expect you to take reasonable steps to secure the property after a break-in. Keep the invoice for any emergency lock work.
Step 6: Secure the property tonight
This is where a locksmith comes in. The goal for the first night is simple: every door and window that was damaged can be shut and locked.
Depending on the damage, that might mean:
- Replacing a forced lock with new hardware there and then.
- Repairing a damaged strike plate or frame enough that the lock engages securely.
- Fitting a temporary lock that holds the door secure until a permanent repair can be made, for example when a matching part needs to be ordered.
If glass is broken, you may also need a glazier or a temporary board-up. We handle the locks; we do not replace glass.
We are open 7 days, 7:00 AM to 12:00 AM. If a break-in is discovered after midnight, we are closed until 7:00 AM. In that situation, ask police about immediate options, consider staying elsewhere, and call us from 7:00 AM. See emergency locksmith.
Step 7: Think about the keys
Ask yourself whether any keys were taken. Burglars sometimes take spare keys found in drawers, key hooks near the door, or in handbags. They may also have found documents showing your address.
If keys are missing, or you are not sure, rekey the locks those keys fit. Every old key stops working, while the lock hardware stays. We can usually rekey undamaged locks on the same visit as the repair. See lock rekeying.
Do not forget:
- garage and side gate locks;
- security screen doors;
- window locks with keys;
- padlocks;
- car keys, which need your car dealer or an automotive specialist rather than us.
Step 8: Work out how they got in
Once the property is secure, look at how entry was made. This tells you where your security was weakest. Common patterns:
- A back or side door forced at the lock, often where the strike plate was held by short screws.
- A sliding door lifted off its track or with a hook latch forced.
- A window left open, or with a latch that could be reached or broken.
- A door left on the latch without the deadbolt thrown.
- A key found under a mat, in a pot plant or in a fake rock.
Step 9: Fix the weak points
Once you know how entry was made, you can fix that and look at the rest of the property with fresh eyes. Typical improvements after a break-in:
- Reinforced strike plates with long screws on external doors.
- A deadbolt on any external door that only has a latch. See door lock installation.
- Sliding door locks and anti-lift blocks on balcony and patio doors.
- Keyed window locks on reachable windows. See window locks.
- Better habits, such as always throwing the deadbolt when leaving.
Our security locksmith service starts with a walk-through and gives you a prioritised list of upgrades, each priced, so you can decide what to do now and what can wait.
Step 10: Look after yourself
A break-in can leave people feeling unsafe in their own home for weeks. That is a normal reaction. Talking to someone helps. Victims Services NSW provides information and support to people affected by crime. Making the house feel secure again, with working locks you trust, is part of recovery too.
For businesses
The same steps apply to shops and offices, with a few additions:
- tell staff not to enter until police say it is safe;
- check whether keys or access cards held at the premises were taken;
- review CCTV if you have it, and give it to police;
- rekey any doors where staff keys may have been compromised;
- plan repairs around reopening.
See our commercial locksmith guide.
What we will and will not do after a break-in
We will secure your property, repair or replace damaged locks, rekey where keys may be compromised, and give you honest advice on upgrades. We will not open or change locks on a property until we have confirmed you have the right to authorise the work, even after a break-in, because that check protects you too.
Talk to us
If your home or business in Lidcombe, Auburn, Berala, Regents Park, Homebush or Strathfield has been broken into, call 02 4503 6922 once you are safe and police have released the scene. We are open 7 days, 7:00 AM to 12:00 AM. You can also read about our lock replacement work or request a quote for planned security upgrades.
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