Burglar-Damaged Door — Emergency Guide

If the door won't lock, don't leave the property unsecured. A local locksmith or emergency glazier will board up the opening within 1–2 hours of a call — insurance policies generally cover this as an emergency repair. Get an itemised invoice and photograph everything before boarding.

Report the incident to police on 101 (or 999 if the offender is still nearby) and note the crime reference number — your insurer will need it. Photograph the damage from multiple angles before any repair work. Preserve any physical evidence (tools left behind, jemmy marks) for the police to see.

Attempted break-ins usually damage: the cylinder (snapped or drilled), the lock keeps in the frame, the outer face of the door (jemmy marks), and sometimes the internal locking mechanism. A quick professional assessment separates a £150 cylinder-and-keep repair from a full door replacement.

Cylinder-only damage: replace with a TS007 3-star anti-snap cylinder (£40–£80 + fitting). Frame keep damage: replace keeps and reinforcement (£50–£120). Damaged door leaf: replace the leaf, keeping the frame if it's intact (£400–£900). Frame damaged: full door set replacement (£900–£2,500). Insurance usually covers all of the above minus your excess.

While the door is out, upgrade to: TS007 3-star cylinder, laminated glass in any glazed panel, dog-bolt reinforced hinges and a Sold Secure Diamond rated lock. Total upgrade cost is £150–£300 over a like-for-like repair and significantly reduces the chance of a repeat attempt.