First, safety and the police
If you arrive and find a door open, glass broken or signs that someone may still be inside, do not walk in. Step away from the building, get to a safe place and call 911. A person who has just forced a door can be unpredictable, and no inventory is worth a confrontation. Wait for officers to clear the premises before you enter.
Once officers arrive, they will want to see where the entry happened. Try not to touch the door, the frame, the lock or the glass until they have looked at them and told you it is fine to proceed. Fingerprints, tool marks and the way a lock failed can all help an investigation. A locksmith who arrives before the police have finished may be asked to wait, and that is normal.
Ask the responding officer for the report number. You will need it for your insurer, for your landlord if you lease, and often for the locksmith's paperwork. Write down the officer's name and the department as well. In Broward and Palm Beach, many municipalities have their own police departments while others are covered by the county sheriff, so the agency that responds depends on the address.
Photograph everything before anything moves
Before repairs begin, take clear photographs of the damage. Capture the whole door and frame from a distance, then close-ups of the lock, the strike plate, the hinges, any pry marks, and broken glass. Photograph the interior too: shelves, drawers, cash areas, computers, and anything that looks disturbed. Date-stamped photos help an insurer understand what happened and what has to be repaired versus replaced.
If you have cameras, preserve the footage right away. Many systems overwrite older recordings, so export the relevant time range and give a copy to police. Write down who has access to the system, because insurers and officers will ask.
Keep every damaged part that comes off the door if possible. A technician may remove a bent cylinder or a broken latch during repairs. Ask them to hand those parts over to you in a bag or box, and label it with the date. Some insurers want to examine the failed hardware, and some adjusters will ask whether the lock was forced, drilled or defeated another way.
- Photograph wide, then close, then interior.
- Note the time you arrived and what you found.
- Do not clean up broken glass until police and the insurer say you may.
- Export camera footage before it is overwritten.
Call your insurer before major repairs
Most commercial property policies expect prompt notice of a loss and may have conditions about how you protect the property afterward. Call the number on the policy or your agent as soon as practical, and ask three questions: what is the claim process, what temporary protection are you expected to arrange, and how should repair invoices be documented.
Many policies require reasonable steps to prevent further damage, which usually includes securing the opening. That means emergency boarding or temporary locks are often expected, and receipts from those steps are usually part of the claim. Keep every receipt and written estimate. Quotes from the locksmith are given only by phone, and a written invoice after the work is what you will send onward.
Do not assume. Policies differ widely, and your adjuster may have preferred vendors or documentation rules. A short phone call before authorizing permanent replacement can save a dispute later.
Securing the building the same day
A business with a damaged entrance cannot simply be left open overnight. Once police have released the scene and you have photographed the damage, the goal is to make the building secure again. Often this is a temporary measure rather than the final repair: a replacement lockset on a door that still closes, a temporary hasp or a brace across a damaged frame, or boarding over broken glass.
A locksmith can assess what is safe to do. If the frame is split, a new deadbolt will not hold, because the wood or metal around the strike is what takes the force. A technician will look at the frame, the strike, the hinges and the door edge. Where a door is too damaged to hold a lock, they may recommend temporary reinforcement and a follow-up repair. Complicated cases need an on-site visit so the technician can see the damage before any quote, and there is a service call charge explained on the phone before dispatch.
Tell the dispatcher honestly what you found, including whether police have been there, whether the door still closes, and whether glass is broken. That helps the technician bring appropriate parts. The company does not promise arrival windows for any location or hour, so ask what to do in the meantime, such as keeping someone at the site if it is safe to do so.
Authorization still applies after a break-in
A locksmith will ask who you are in relation to the property, even after a break-in. This is not suspicion of the victim. It is the same check used everywhere: the person asking for lock work must have the right to authorize it. If you own the business, show identification and something that links you to the address, such as a lease, a utility statement, or a business registration. If you are an employee or manager, you may need the owner's confirmation. If you are a tenant, the landlord may also need to be informed.
This matters more after a break-in, because someone who forced a door may also hold keys or know the building. If there is any chance the intruder was an ex-employee, former partner or someone who once had a key, tell the police and talk to the locksmith about rekeying every door, not just the damaged one. See our overview of locksmith authorization for businesses for the documents usually accepted.
If a landlord owns the building, find out whether they or you are responsible for door repair. The lease normally says. If the door is part of the shell of the building, the landlord may want to arrange the repair or approve yours before work begins.
Repair or replace: what a technician looks at
After the immediate securing, the question becomes how much of the door system to restore. A technician considers the whole assembly rather than the lock alone. They check the door slab for cracks, bent edges or damage near the latch. They check the frame for splits and whether the strike plate has pulled loose. They look at the hinges and the screws that hold them, because forced entry often stresses the hinge side. They inspect the cylinder and the latch for damage that may not be obvious.
Sometimes a clean repair is possible. A bent strike plate may be replaced and the frame reinforced. A damaged cylinder can be replaced. Other times it is more sensible to replace the lockset, or the door, if the structure has failed. The decision depends on the damage, the type of door, and what your insurer will recognize as reasonable.
Be wary of anyone who insists everything must be replaced without explaining why, or who will not put the scope of the work in writing. A trustworthy technician explains what failed, what the options are, and what each choice does for security. Read our quote checklist before agreeing to work.
| Damage seen | Usual first look | Possible response |
|---|---|---|
| Pry marks near latch | Frame and strike plate | Reinforce frame, replace strike |
| Cylinder broken or pulled | Cylinder and bolt condition | Replace cylinder or lockset |
| Split door edge | Door slab integrity | Repair edge or replace door |
| Bent hinge side | Hinges, screws, frame | Replace hinges, check alignment |
| Broken glass beside lock | Access to interior thumb turn | Board up, rekey, review glass type |
Rekeying after a forced entry
Even if only one door was damaged, think about the rest. If keys were taken, copied or if you cannot say with confidence who has them, rekeying changes the internal pins so old keys no longer work. This is quicker than replacing locks when the hardware itself is sound. Where keys were stolen with addresses attached, such as a ring with a business tag, rekeying becomes more urgent.
Include alarm panels and keypads in your thinking. If an intruder had time inside, they may have seen alarm arming numbers written on a note or a whiteboard. Change those at the panel, through your alarm company, and tell your insurer if that applies. For keypad doors, change the entry number and review who knows it. Our overview of keypads and access control explains the options.
Finally, use the moment to correct the weak points that existed. Many break-ins exploit a thin frame, a short deadbolt throw, or a door that was never properly latched. If a door is going to be repaired anyway, ask the technician what could be strengthened without turning the entrance into a hazard for people who need to leave quickly.
- Count every key you know about and who holds them.
- Rekey any door where a key may be missing or copied.
- Change alarm and keypad entries if they could have been seen.
- Update your written key list and keep it with the manager.
Exits, glass and life safety during repairs
Whatever you do to secure a building, people must still be able to leave in an emergency. A temporary measure that chains or bars an exit door is dangerous if anyone works in the space. Insurers and fire authorities do not want an exit blocked by a makeshift fix. If a temporary measure covers an exit, make sure the space is not occupied while it is in place, and replace it with proper hardware quickly.
Storefront glass deserves its own thought. When glass breaks beside a lock, an intruder can reach through and turn a thumb latch. If the replacement uses the same layout, the same weakness returns. A technician cannot redesign your storefront, but can describe options such as keyed cylinders on both sides, and you can discuss glass choices with a glazing contractor.
Humidity and storms also matter. Boarding up in South Florida often happens just before or after a storm event, and plywood is a short-term answer. After repairs, check that the door still latches in damp weather and that the frame does not swell against the strike.
Paperwork you will need to keep
A break-in produces a small pile of documents, and keeping them together saves time. Start a folder, paper or digital, with the police report number, officer contact, photos, any camera export, insurer claim number, adjuster contact, receipts and the locksmith's invoice. Ask the locksmith to list in writing what was done to each door: which parts were replaced, what was rekeyed, and the date.
Our guide on locksmith work documentation and receipts describes what a useful invoice includes. Having it ready when the adjuster asks is much easier than recreating it afterward.
If you rent, give your landlord a copy of the police report and tell them what was changed, especially if keys were rekeyed. Leases often require that the landlord have a way in, and a lock change you did not mention can cause friction later. Take care of the paperwork once and the rest of the process goes more smoothly.
Calling a locksmith after a break-in
When you are ready to arrange repairs, call and explain what happened in plain terms. Say whether police have released the scene, which doors are damaged, whether the door closes, and who you are in relation to the building. You will be asked about authorization. Quotes are given only by phone, and complicated repairs need an on-site visit. A service call charge applies for dispatch and is explained before anyone is sent.
Have ready the police report number, your photos, the lease or ownership document, a photo identification, and the insurer's contact if they have asked for specific steps. If anyone is in danger or the suspect may still be nearby, call 911 before anything else. Otherwise, call and tell us what you are facing, and we will talk through what is safe to do while you wait.
Questions people ask
Should I call a locksmith or the police first after a break-in?
Police first. If anyone could still be inside or you feel unsafe, call 911 and stay outside. The damaged door and lock may be evidence, so avoid touching them until officers have finished. Once police have released the scene and you have photographs, a locksmith can help secure the building. Your insurer should be contacted early as well.
Can the locksmith start work before my insurer approves?
Temporary securing is normally expected so the property is protected, and receipts are kept for the claim. For permanent replacement, it is wise to ask your insurer or adjuster first, since policies differ. Photograph the damage and keep removed parts before any work begins. A short call to the insurer usually settles what is required.
Do I need to change all the locks, or just the damaged one?
That depends on whether keys may have been taken, copied or known to someone who should not have them. If you are unsure who holds keys, rekeying every door is a sound step. If only a lock was forced and keys are accounted for, replacing the damaged hardware may be enough. The technician can explain the options on site.
Will the locksmith need proof I own or rent the business?
Yes, authorization is checked even after a break-in. Typical items include a government photo identification and a lease, ownership record, utility statement or a letter from the property manager. If you are an employee, the owner or manager may need to confirm. This protects you from someone else locking you out.
How long does it take to repair a forced door?
It depends on how badly the door, frame and hardware were damaged. A bent strike plate is a short job, while a split frame or ruined door slab takes longer and may require another trade. We do not promise timeframes or arrival windows. Complicated work needs an on-site look first, and quotes are given only by phone.
Is it safe to board up an exit door myself?
Be careful. Blocking an exit with boards, chains or bars can trap people if anyone is inside, and it may conflict with life-safety requirements. If a temporary measure is needed, keep the space unoccupied while it is in place and replace it with proper hardware promptly. Ask the technician what is safe for your specific door.
Describe the situation by phone and we will tell you what the job involves. Quotes are given by phone. Jobs that cannot be quoted without seeing them need a technician on site, and the service call charge is explained on the phone before anyone is dispatched.