Home Security After A Break-In
In short: Police report first, then secure the point of entry the same day, then rekey everything. Upgrade the strike plates before you buy anything expensive.
Report it before anything is touched
File the police report and photograph the damage before repairs begin. Insurers generally require both, and a repaired door with no record of how it looked is a difficult claim.
Secure the entry point today
Whatever was forced needs to be functional and lockable before nightfall, even temporarily. A door that will not lock is an open invitation to a repeat visit, and repeat visits to recently burgled properties are common.
Rekey everything, not just the damaged door
If keys were taken, or if entry was through a door whose key may have been copied, every lock should be rekeyed. Rekeying the forced door alone leaves every other key still working.
Fix the frame, not just the lock
Most forced residential doors fail at the frame, not the lock. The bolt stays intact and the wood around the strike splits. Reinforced strike plates with three-inch screws reaching the framing stud address the actual failure point, and cost very little.
Then consider the upgrades
In rough order of value for money: longer strike screws, a Grade 1 or Grade 2 deadbolt on every exterior door, secondary locks on sliding doors and accessible windows, cameras at the entry points that were actually used, and lighting on the approach. Cameras record; locks prevent.
About this guide
Written by A 24 Hour Locksmith, a licensed Sacramento locksmith. California Bureau of Security and Investigative Services License No. LCO 6830. License numbers can be verified on the California BSIS public license lookup. Nothing on this page is a priced offer; call (916) 244-3934 for an estimate for your situation.
Common questions
Should I rekey or replace after a break-in?
Replace what was damaged, rekey everything else. Damaged hardware may be compromised even if it still turns.
Do cameras stop burglaries?
They help with identification and afterwards with insurance. Physical security is what actually prevents entry. Do both, in that order of priority.
What is the single cheapest thing that helps?
Three-inch strike-plate screws that reach the framing stud. It is a few dollars and it addresses the way most forced doors actually fail.
Questions about your own locks?
Call and you will get a straight answer, whether or not it turns into a job.
Call (916) 244-3934