How to Secure Your Door After a Break-In in the UK

A home burglary is recorded roughly every three minutes in England and Wales. If someone has just forced your door, what you do next decides whether this stays a one-off or becomes a repeat visit.

After a break-in, make sure everyone is safe, call the police on 999 or 101, get a crime reference number, then arrange an assessment of damaged locks and doors. Check the individual insurance policy before choosing BS3621, TS007 or anti-snap hardware.

This matters because around 70 per cent of burglars enter through a door, and offenders often return to the same property within weeks. They already know the layout and how weak the old security was. Acting promptly is not optional.

The Kingdom Locksmith and emergency burglary repair services pages provide contact information. Confirm availability, scope and any policy-specific hardware requirement before booking.

This guide explains immediate safety steps, lock and door options, questions for an insurer and measures that may reduce the risk of another break-in.

Quick Summary: How to Secure Your Door After a Break-In

After a break-in, first make sure everyone is safe. Call 999 if an intruder may still be nearby, or 101 to report a non-immediate incident. Do not disturb evidence before police advice. Once cleared to do so, arrange an assessment of the damaged door and locks. Photograph the damage, contact the insurer with the crime reference number and check the policy before selecting any replacement standard.

Key Takeaways

• Call 999 for immediate danger or 101 to report a non-immediate incident, and obtain a crime reference number.
• Follow police advice before moving or repairing anything that may be evidence.
• Arrange a locksmith assessment once the police give the all-clear.
• Assess whether locks need changing, including whether keys may have been taken.
• Check the individual policy before selecting BS3621 mortice deadlocks or TS007-rated anti-snap euro cylinders.
• Consider other accessible entry points separately rather than assuming one repair covers the whole property.

What to Do Immediately After a Break-In in the UK (Emergency Checklist)

Discovering a break-in is overwhelming. Your hands might be shaking. Your mind is racing through everything that could be missing. That reaction is completely normal.

But what you do in the next hour matters more than you might think. The right steps protect the evidence, speed up your insurance claim, and get your home properly secured. The wrong steps, like cleaning up too early or delaying the call to the police, can cost you weeks of hassle.

Here is exactly what to do, in order.

Make Sure You and Your Family Are Safe

This comes before everything else. If you arrive home and the door is open or forced, do not go inside. The intruder could still be in the property.

Go to a neighbour's house or get back in your car. Lock the doors. Call 999 straight away.

If you are already inside and hear movement, leave immediately. Do not confront anyone. No possession is worth the risk. Get out, get safe, then call for help.

Only re-enter once the police have confirmed the property is clear.

Call the Police and Get a Crime Reference Number

If the burglar may still be present, call 999. If they have clearly left and you are safe, call 101 to report the crime.

Here is something people often miss. Do not touch, move or clean anything before the police arrive. Fingerprints on door handles, footprints near the entry point, tool marks on the lock. All of it is evidence. The moment you wipe down a surface or move a broken door, you risk destroying something that could help catch the offender.

When officers attend, they will issue a crime reference number. Write it down and keep it somewhere safe. You will need it for your insurance claim, for the locksmith's paperwork, and possibly for follow-up with the police.

Document the Damage Before Touching Anything

Once the police finish their assessment and give you the go-ahead, take your phone and photograph everything.

Take photos of the broken door, the damaged lock, any tool marks on the frame, smashed windows, and the state of every room. Record a video walkthrough if you can, with wide angles and close-ups.

Then sit down and write a list of everything stolen or damaged. Include serial numbers where possible, estimated values and purchase dates. The more detail you provide, the smoother your insurance claim will go.

It is not a pleasant job, but skipping it causes problems later.

Contact Your Insurance Company

Call your insurer within the first 24 hours. Most policies require prompt notification, and delaying could complicate your claim.

Have the policy number, crime reference number and a list of damaged or stolen items ready. Ask whether the policy requires an approved contractor, prior authorisation or a particular lock standard; requirements differ between insurers and policies.

Keep a record of every call. Date, time, who you spoke with and what they told you. This paper trail protects you if there are disputes later.

Call an Emergency Locksmith

This is the step that actually makes your home safe again. Once the police have finished at the scene, call an emergency locksmith to assess and secure the property.

A locksmith should assess the breached opening, explain repair and replacement options and identify any additional checks being proposed. Confirm the agreed scope rather than assuming every door and window is included.

For provider information, see Kingdom Locksmith’s emergency locksmith service page and ask about availability for the specific damage.

Need to contact a locksmith? Call Kingdom Locksmith on 0333 006 9691 and ask about current availability and scope before booking.

How to Secure Your Door After a Break-In

The lock is smashed. The frame is splintered. Maybe the whole door is hanging off its hinges. Now what?

Securing your door after a break-in happens in two stages. First, a temporary fix to make the property safe right now. Then, a permanent repair or upgrade to prevent it happening again. Rushing the second stage is tempting, but getting the first stage right keeps you safe tonight.

Temporary Fixes to Secure Your Door Right Now

While you wait for the locksmith, you need to stop anyone from walking straight in.

If the door still closes but the lock is broken, wedge it shut from the inside using a chair braced under the handle. Not pretty, but it works as a short-term measure. A heavy piece of furniture pushed against the door adds resistance.

If the door will not close at all, cover the opening. A sheet of plywood screwed into the frame is better than nothing. Even a heavy curtain or blanket draped across the gap reduces visibility from outside.

None of these are real security. They buy you a few hours until a professional arrives.

Emergency Boarding Up

When the door or frame is too badly damaged for a straightforward lock swap, emergency boarding is the first professional step.

A locksmith will secure plywood or steel sheeting across the damaged opening, anchored into the surrounding wall structure. This prevents re-entry, protects against weather damage, and gives you time to arrange a permanent door replacement if needed.

The emergency burglary repair page describes boarding as one possible temporary measure. Ask what material and fixings are suitable for the actual opening.

Emergency boarding is temporary. It keeps you safe while the proper repair is organised. Most people have a new lock or a new door fitted within a day or two.

Securing a uPVC Door After a Break-In

uPVC doors are the most common entry point in UK burglaries, and the reason is simple. Standard euro cylinders on uPVC doors can be snapped in under 30 seconds with nothing more than a pair of pliers and brute force.

If a burglar snapped your cylinder to get in, your locksmith will replace it with an anti-snap euro cylinder rated to TS007 standards. These cylinders are designed to break at a sacrificial point before the intruder can reach the locking mechanism inside.

But the cylinder is not always the only damage. Forced entry often bends or jams the multipoint locking mechanism inside the door. If the handle feels loose, the door will not lock properly, or the bolts are not engaging at the top and bottom, the mechanism needs replacing too.

The uPVC door repair page describes cylinder, handle, mechanism and alignment work. A diagnosis is needed to identify which component is damaged.

Securing a Timber or Composite Door After a Break-In

Timber doors face a different threat. Burglars often attack the frame rather than the lock, kicking the door until the frame splits around the strike plate.

If that happened to you, the fix involves more than swapping the lock. Your locksmith should install a reinforced steel strike plate anchored with 75mm screws that reach into the wall studs, not just the door frame. This turns the weakest point of a timber door into one of the strongest.

For the lock itself, a 5-lever mortice deadlock rated to BS3621 is the UK standard. If your old lock was a basic 3-lever or a cheap cylinder night latch, this is the time to upgrade.

Composite doors use a similar multipoint mechanism to uPVC, so the repair process is much the same. Replace the cylinder, check the mechanism, and reinforce the frame if needed.

Should You Change Your Locks After a Burglary?

The short answer is yes. Every time.

Even if the burglar got in through a window. Even if your locks look perfectly fine. Here is why.

Key Security: Why Old Keys Cannot Be Trusted

Think about what a burglar does once inside your home. They open drawers. They check coat pockets. They look in bowls by the front door.

If you had spare keys anywhere in the house, and most people do, the intruder may have taken or copied them. You would never know. The keys look the same. The lock works the same. But someone else now has access to your home whenever they choose.

New locks remove this risk completely. Every old key becomes useless, including any key the burglar may have pocketed on the way out.

It is one of those things that feels unnecessary right up until it is not.

The Re-Victimisation Risk

Here is a statistic that surprises most people. Burglars frequently return to properties they have already targeted. Not months later. Weeks.

Why? Because they already know the layout of your home. They know where you keep valuables. They know your door was easy to breach once, and unless you have upgraded it, it will be easy to breach again.

UK crime research shows re-victimisation is a well-documented pattern, particularly in the first six weeks after the original break-in. Fitting new, higher-quality locks is the single most visible deterrent against a return visit.

The lock replacement services page outlines common replacement work. Ask what will be removed and fitted, how many keys are included and how the lock will be tested.

Insurance Requirements for Lock Changes

Some home insurance policies contain security conditions after a burglary. Read the individual wording or ask the insurer whether any lock changes are required for continued cover.

Failing to follow a specific policy condition can affect a later claim, but the consequence depends on the contract and circumstances. Get the insurer’s requirement in writing where possible.

Some policies may cover emergency locksmith or replacement costs after a break-in, subject to terms, limits and excess. Ask what evidence the insurer needs before authorising work.

Request a written breakdown of completed work and lock specifications if the individual claim process requires them.

What Locks Do UK Insurance Companies Require?

You will hear a lot of jargon when shopping for new locks: BS3621, TS007, anti-snap, Secured by Design. It sounds complicated, but the basics are straightforward.

The relevant standard depends on the door and the insurance policy. Treat BS3621, TS007, anti-snap and Secured by Design as specifications to compare, not universal insurer requirements.

Check both physical suitability and the exact policy wording. A secure product may still differ from what a particular contract specifies.

BS3621: Check Whether the Policy Specifies It

BS3621 is a British Standard for thief-resistant locks and is referenced by some UK home insurance policies. Confirm whether the individual policy requires it.

A BS3621 lock is tested against specified forms of attack. The marked product and its installation should be checked against the door and any stated policy condition.

For timber doors, a 5-lever mortice deadlock made to BS3621 may be appropriate. Do not assume it is mandatory without checking the particular policy and door.

TS007 and Anti-Snap Cylinders for uPVC Doors

BS3621 applies to mortice locks on timber doors. But most modern UK homes have uPVC or composite doors with euro profile cylinders. These fall under a different standard: TS007.

TS007 rates cylinders on a star system.

TS007 uses a star-rating system for cylinders and protective hardware.

A 1-star cylinder combined with a compatible 2-star handle, or a 3-star cylinder, can achieve the relevant protection level. Check the product combination and any policy wording.

The high security lock services page describes 3-star anti-snap cylinders from brands such as Yale and Avocet. Confirm the fit, rating and insurer requirement before selecting one.

Secured by Design: The Police Preferred Specification

Secured by Design (SBD) is a UK police initiative that tests and approves security products against demanding standards. Products carrying the SBD logo have passed independent testing backed by the police.

An insurer may or may not mention SBD products. Treat approval as product information and check the policy rather than assuming it changes claim treatment. Building requirements also depend on the property and project.

If you are replacing your door entirely after a break-in, ask your supplier whether it carries SBD approval. If you are just upgrading locks, ask your locksmith for SBD-approved cylinders and hardware.

Best Lock Upgrades After a Break-In in the UK

You have changed the broken lock. The door is secure for now. But "secure for now" is not the same as "properly protected".

A break-in is a wake-up call. Most people realise their old locks were far weaker than they assumed. This is the moment to upgrade, not just replace.

Here are the upgrades that make the biggest difference.

Anti-Snap Euro Cylinders

If you have a uPVC or composite door, this is the single most important upgrade you can make.

Standard euro cylinders protrude slightly from the door handle on the outside. A burglar grabs the cylinder with mole grips, snaps it in half, and reaches into the exposed mechanism to turn the lock. The whole process takes less than 30 seconds.

Anti-snap cylinders are engineered with a deliberate weak point (called a "sacrifice section") that breaks away before the intruder can reach the locking cam inside. The lock stays secure even after a snap attack.

Look for cylinders with a TS007 3-star rating, or a combination of a 1-star cylinder and a 2-star handle that achieves 3 stars overall. Brands like Avocet ABS, Yale Superior and Ultion are among the most widely trusted in the UK market.

Multipoint Locking Systems

A standard lock secures your door at one point. A multipoint locking system secures it at three or more, typically with hooks or bolts engaging at the top, middle and bottom of the frame.

This is the system inside most uPVC and composite doors. When you lift the handle and turn the key, you should feel multiple bolts engage. If you only feel one, your door either has an older single-point lock or the mechanism is faulty.

Forced entry can damage a multipoint mechanism even when the cylinder survives. A floppy handle or partially engaging bolts warrants a mechanism assessment.

The door lock repair services page describes multipoint mechanism work. Confirm brand compatibility and parts availability for the specific door.

High-Security Mortice Deadlocks

For timber doors, the 5-lever mortice deadlock remains the benchmark in UK home security. It sits inside the body of the door (morticed into the timber) and requires a key to lock and unlock from both sides.

A BS3621-marked 5-lever mortice deadlock is one option for timber doors. Whether it satisfies an insurance condition depends on the individual policy and installation.

If your timber door currently has a basic night latch (the kind you open by turning a knob on the inside), adding a mortice deadlock below it gives you two-point locking. Police crime prevention advice treats this as a sensible minimum for UK front doors.

Smart Locks

Smart locks add a layer of technology on top of mechanical security. Depending on the model, you can lock and unlock your door with a phone app, a PIN code or a fingerprint.

The real value after a break-in? Control and visibility. Smart locks send alerts to your phone every time someone enters or leaves. You can grant temporary access codes to family members, dog walkers or tradespeople, and revoke them whenever you choose. No more spare keys hidden under the doormat.

Not all smart locks meet UK insurance standards, so check the specifications carefully. Some are designed as replacements for euro cylinders on uPVC doors. Others fit timber doors with existing mortice lock cutouts.

The smart lock installation page describes fitting and setup. Before choosing a model, check compatibility with the door and the insurer’s policy wording.

Key Safes

A key safe is a small, wall-mounted metal box with a coded lock that stores a spare key outside your home.

Why does this matter after a break-in? Because many people keep spare keys inside the house, which is exactly where a burglar finds them. A key safe lets you store a spare externally, protected by a combination code, without the risk of someone finding it under a flowerpot.

Key safes are also essential if you have elderly relatives, carers visiting the property, or anyone who might need emergency access when you are not home.

The key safe installation page describes fixing and placement considerations. Ask how the chosen safe would be anchored to the available surface.

Lock Types Compared: Which One Do You Need?

Prices are approximate and vary with brand, door type and fitting complexity. Ask for a job-specific quote and check any policy requirement before choosing hardware.

Need product information? Call Kingdom Locksmith on 0333 006 9691 and ask about current availability and the options for the specific door.

How to Repair a Door Damaged During a Break-In

A new lock on a damaged door is like a padlock on a cardboard box. The lock might be perfect, but if the door or frame is compromised, it will not hold up to a second attack.

After a burglary, the door itself often needs as much attention as the lock. Forced entry causes damage that is not always visible at first glance.

Door Frame Reinforcement

The frame is the part that fails first in a kick-in attack. Most residential door frames in the UK are softwood timber, held in place with short screws. One solid kick and the frame splits around the strike plate, popping the lock bolt out of its housing.

Fixing this properly means more than gluing the split back together.

Your locksmith should install a reinforced steel strike plate, at least 300mm long, anchored with 75mm screws that reach through the frame and into the structural wall studs behind it. This spreads the force of any future kick across a much larger area, making the door dramatically harder to breach.

Hinge bolts on the opposite side of the door add another layer of protection. These steel pins slot into the frame when the door closes, preventing an attack on the hinge side as an alternative way in.

Door Mechanism Repairs

On uPVC and composite doors, the internal multipoint locking mechanism (sometimes called the gearbox) often suffers damage during a forced entry, even if the door looks fine from the outside.

Symptoms of a damaged mechanism include a handle that spins freely without engaging the bolts, bolts that only partially extend, or a door that locks at the centre but not at the top and bottom.

The door mechanism repair services page describes diagnosis and replacement categories. The exact repair depends on the mechanism and compatible parts.

Do not ignore a partially working mechanism. If the door is only locking at one point instead of three, it is barely more secure than having no lock at all.

When to Repair vs. When to Replace the Door

Sometimes the damage goes beyond what a repair can fix.

If the door panel itself is cracked through, if a timber door has split along the grain, or if a uPVC door has warped so badly that it no longer sits flush in the frame, repair is not enough. Forcing a lock onto a structurally weakened door gives you the appearance of security without the reality of it.

In these cases, your locksmith will provide emergency boarding to secure the property immediately, then advise on whether you need a full door replacement. A new door with proper locks and a reinforced frame fitted from scratch is sometimes the most cost-effective long-term option, especially if the old door was already showing signs of wear before the break-in.

A policy may cover a replacement door when burglary caused the damage, subject to its terms, excess, limits and evidence requirements. Ask the insurer what documents are needed.

How to Prevent Another Break-In

Your door is fixed. The locks are upgraded. But the job is not finished.

According to the Office for National Statistics, around 166,577 home burglaries were reported in England and Wales in the year ending March 2025. The West Midlands alone recorded nearly 16,000. And burglars are creatures of habit. A property that was easy to enter once becomes a target for a return visit unless the security visibly improves.

Prevention is not about turning your home into a fortress. It is about making your property a harder target than the one next door.

Upgrade All Entry Points, Not Just the Broken One

Most people focus entirely on the door the burglar came through. Understandable, but a mistake.

The back door, the patio door, the garage side door, ground-floor windows. All of them need checking. If the burglar did not use them this time, it does not mean they will not next time.

Walk around your property with your locksmith and check every entry point. Are the window locks working? Does the back door have a proper deadlock or just a basic latch? Is the garage door secured? A single weak point undoes everything else.

Install Motion-Activated Lighting

Burglars prefer to work in the dark. Outdoor lighting removes that advantage.

Motion-activated LED floodlights around the front door, back door, side passages and garage cost very little to install and run. They come on the moment someone approaches, which deters opportunists and alerts you or your neighbours to unusual activity.

Solar-powered options need no wiring at all. You can fit them in under an hour.

Consider a Home Security System

A visible burglar alarm on the front of your house tells any would-be intruder that this property is monitored. Whether you choose a basic bell-only alarm, a smart system connected to your phone, or a fully monitored CCTV setup, the visible deterrent effect is significant.

Video doorbells are another worthwhile addition. They let you see and speak to anyone at your door from your phone, wherever you are. After a break-in, that level of awareness can make a real difference to how safe you feel.

Community Vigilance and Smart Security Habits

Small habits add up. Use light timers when you are away so the house looks occupied. Cancel deliveries before a holiday. Ask a neighbour to collect your post. And never share your travel plans on social media before you leave.

How Much Does It Cost to Secure a Door After a Burglary in the UK?

Cost is one of the first questions people ask after a break-in, and the honest answer depends on the extent of the damage.

A straightforward lock change on a uPVC door with an anti-snap cylinder upgrade might cost between £80 and £150. A more involved job, replacing a multipoint mechanism, repairing the frame and upgrading the hardware, could run to £200 to £400. Full emergency boarding plus lock replacement typically falls in a similar range.

These are rough guides. The only way to get an accurate figure is to have a locksmith assess the damage in person.

Typical Costs for Emergency Locksmith Services

Here is a general idea of what to expect in the UK:

Prices vary by region, time of day and the specific hardware required. Always ask for a clear breakdown before work begins.

Apply the same pricing and scope questions to Kingdom Locksmith and any other provider.

Will Your Insurance Cover the Cost?

Coverage depends on the individual policy.

Some UK home insurance policies cover emergency locksmith costs, lock replacement or burglary-related door replacement, subject to exclusions, limits and the policy excess.

A claim may require a crime reference number, invoice and lock specifications, but documentation rules vary. Ask the insurer for its exact checklist.

Call the insurer before authorising non-urgent work where possible. A policy may require an approved contractor or prior agreement, while another may allow any suitably qualified provider.

Keep receipts, photographs and correspondence in case the insurer requests them.

Comparing Locksmith Help After a Break-In

Ask any provider to explain the proposed repair, any temporary limitations and what each quoted item covers.

For Kingdom Locksmith, confirm current availability and the specific scope rather than assuming regional coverage or a standard package.

Use this checklist when comparing quotes:

• Explanation. Ask for the fault and proposed work in clear terms.
• Hardware. Check the specification against the door and any policy wording.
• Additional checks. Agree separately whether other entry points will be inspected.
• Documents. Ask what invoice or product information can be supplied if the insurer needs it.
• Phasing. Separate temporary boarding, permanent repair and optional upgrades in the quote.
• Availability. Confirm the exact address and timing before booking.

The emergency burglary repair page describes boarding, lock changes and security-upgrade categories. Confirm which, if any, apply to the actual damage.

Call 0333 006 9691 or use the callback form to ask about availability and a job-specific assessment.

The priority is a clear, proportionate plan for securing the damaged opening.

Conclusion

A break-in shakes your sense of safety. But the steps you take in the hours and days that follow determine whether your home becomes a harder target or stays vulnerable to a repeat attack. Change your locks, upgrade to British Standard hardware, repair the damage properly, and secure every entry point.

Do not wait. Every hour your property sits with a compromised door is another hour of risk.

For Kingdom Locksmith, ask about current availability and the specific work required; do not assume coverage or completion timing.

Your home can be more secure tonight than it was before the break-in.

Call 0333 006 9691 or use the callback form to ask about current availability.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the first thing I should do after a break-in in the UK?

Make sure you and your family are safe first. If the intruder might still be inside, leave the property and call 999. Once safe, call 101 to report the crime and get a crime reference number. Do not touch or move anything until the police have attended and collected evidence. After that, contact your insurer and call an emergency locksmith to secure the property.

Should I change my locks after a burglary?

Assess the locks after a burglary even if they look undamaged, particularly if keys may have been taken. Whether replacement is required for insurance purposes depends on the individual policy, so confirm the wording with the insurer.

What locks do UK insurance companies require?

Requirements vary. A policy may refer to BS3621 for some timber-door locks or TS007 ratings for cylinder hardware, while another may use different wording. Check the specific policy and confirm any uncertainty with the insurer.

How quickly can a locksmith come after a break-in?

Timing depends on location, time of day and current demand. Ask for a realistic expected arrival and whether the likely repair needs ordered parts. For Kingdom Locksmith, confirm availability for the exact address when calling.

How much does it cost to change locks after a break-in in the UK?

A standard lock change on one door may cost between £80 and £150, while mechanism or frame work may range from £200 to £400. Insurance reimbursement depends on the policy terms, excess, limits and authorisation requirements, so check before assuming the cost is covered.

Can a locksmith fix a door that was kicked in?

Yes. A professional locksmith can replace damaged locks, install reinforced strike plates, fit hinge bolts, and repair or replace broken multipoint mechanisms. If the door or frame is structurally damaged beyond repair, they will provide emergency boarding to secure the property and advise on a full door replacement.

How do I stop burglars from coming back to my house?

Change all the locks immediately and upgrade to high-security anti-snap cylinders or BS3621 deadlocks. Install motion-activated lighting around every entry point. Consider adding a visible burglar alarm or CCTV system. Secure all doors and windows, not just the one that was breached. Join your local Neighbourhood Watch and adopt basic security habits like using light timers when you are away.