First Steps: Safety and Documentation
If you arrive home to signs of a break-in, do not enter. Call 911 from outside. The intruder may still be inside, and you risk contaminating evidence or putting yourself in danger.
Once police clear the scene, document everything before you clean up. Take photos of damaged doors, windows, locks, and any tool marks. File a police report immediately — you'll need the case number for insurance claims. Your insurer will want an itemized list of stolen property, receipts if available, and repair estimates.
If it's after hours and your door won't secure, board up broken windows and jam a chair under knobs until a locksmith arrives. Don't stay in a home you can't lock. Many burglars return within days to see if high-value items have been replaced.
Replace or Rekey Every Lock
Assume the intruder took any keys they found. Even if keys weren't visible, drawers get rifled and spare sets hidden in kitchens get discovered. Rekey or replace every exterior lock immediately. Rekeying swaps the pin stack inside a cylinder so old keys no longer work; it's faster and cheaper than full replacement if your hardware is in good shape.
If the lock was forced, you need a full replacement. Look for visible damage — bent deadbolt latch, cracked strike plate, splintered door frame. A forced lock often damages the cylinder or housing beyond repair. Upgrade to an ANSI Grade 1 deadbolt with a one-inch throw and hardened-steel insert. Grade 1 locks resist picking, drilling, and kick-in attacks far better than builder-grade hardware.
Don't forget interior doors. If keys to a home office, garage entry, or basement were accessible, rekey those too. For professional rekeying and lock upgrades, a mobile locksmith can handle your entire property in one visit.
Reinforce Doors and Frames
Most forced entries exploit weak strike plates and short hinge screws. A standard strike plate is held by two half-inch screws that bite into trim, not the stud. One solid kick snaps them free. Upgrade to a four-screw reinforced strike plate with three-inch screws that anchor into the door frame's structural stud.
Check your door hinges. If they're on the exterior (outswing door), a thief can pop the pins. Install hinge bolts or non-removable pin hinges. For inswing doors, replace those short trim screws with three-inch screws in at least one hole per hinge leaf.
Hollow-core doors offer zero security. If your exterior door or door from garage to house is hollow, replace it with solid wood or a steel-reinforced door. A solid-core door paired with a Grade 1 deadbolt and reinforced strike can withstand hundreds of pounds of kick force.
Secure Windows and Sliding Doors
Ground-floor and basement windows are common secondary entry points. Add keyed window locks or pin locks to double-hung and sliding windows. A simple dowel in the track of a sliding window stops it from opening, but a proper lock is harder to defeat and still allows ventilation when partially open.
Sliding glass doors are notorious weak spots. Even locked, many can be lifted off their tracks. Install anti-lift brackets or adjust the top track so there's no clearance. Drop a cut dowel or security bar in the bottom track as a secondary stop. Consider upgrading to a pin-tumbler patio-door lock that replaces the flimsy latch.
If a window was shattered, board it temporarily and call a glass company. Leaving it open — even covered with plastic — invites a second visit. Motion-sensor lights near windows and doors also discourage repeat attempts.
Consider Smart Locks and Access Control
Smart locks eliminate the risk of stolen or copied keys. Most use encrypted keypads, smartphone apps, or biometric readers. You can issue temporary codes to housekeepers or contractors and revoke them instantly. Activity logs show exactly when each code was used, which matters if you suspect inside knowledge of your routine.
When choosing a smart lock, confirm it fits your door's backset (usually 2⅜″ or 2¾″) and bore diameter (standard 2⅛″). Look for models with physical key backup in case of dead batteries or network outages. Battery life varies — most last six to twelve months on four AA batteries.
Smart locks won't help if your door frame is weak. Pair them with reinforced strikes and Grade 1 deadbolt housings. A digital lock on a hollow door or flimsy frame is security theater, not real protection.
Audit Your Key Control and Habits
After a break-in, rethink how you manage keys. Never hide a spare under a mat, planter, or fake rock. Burglars check these spots first. If you need emergency access, give a spare to a trusted neighbor or install a smart lock with a code you can share remotely.
If you've had repair workers, contractors, or housekeepers in your home recently, change your locks even if nothing was stolen. It's common for a casual visitor to photograph a key or note your routine. Many break-ins are inside jobs or crimes of opportunity by someone who's been in the house.
Master-key systems are convenient for landlords and property managers but introduce risk. If you rent out rooms or units, use a sub-master hierarchy so a single lost key doesn't compromise every lock. A licensed locksmith can design a system where each tenant's key opens only their space, while you retain a master that opens all units.
Layer Your Security Moving Forward
Physical locks are your first line of defense, but layering works best. Add a video doorbell or outdoor camera with cloud recording. Visible cameras deter opportunistic thieves, and footage helps police if someone returns. Motion-sensor flood lights eliminate dark corners where intruders can work unseen.
Consider a monitored alarm system if you don't have one. Even an unmonitored system with loud sirens and window decals changes the risk calculation for a burglar. Pair it with door and window sensors on every ground-level entry point.
Finally, vary your routine. Burglars often watch a target for days. Lights on timers, a car in the driveway, and mail pickup by a neighbor all signal occupancy. If you travel frequently, a house sitter or trusted friend stopping by unpredictably is worth the investment.
For more security tips and lock options, visit our locksmith blog or get in touch for a free consultation.