After a Break-In: Securing Your Hornsby Home

Coming home to find a door forced, a window smashed or a room turned upside down is deeply unsettling. Beyond whatever was taken, there is the feeling that your home is no longer quite as safe as it was. The good news is that most break-ins expose specific, fixable weaknesses, and dealing with them properly can make your home genuinely more secure than it was before.

This guide sets out what to do in the first hours and days after a break-in, in a sensible order, from personal safety through to the locks and doors. It is based on the work we do for households around Hornsby, Waitara, Wahroonga, Asquith, Normanhurst and Berowra.

First: safety

If you arrive home and suspect someone might still be inside, do not go in. Move somewhere safe and call 000. Wait for police.

If the house is clear, try not to touch anything more than necessary until police have attended or told you what they need. Forced doors, windows and disturbed rooms can provide useful evidence.

Second: report it

For a break-in that is not in progress, contact NSW Police through the Police Assistance Line (131 444) or the appropriate reporting channel. You will receive an event number, which your insurer will almost certainly ask for.

Third: document everything

Before anything is repaired or tidied, take photos and short videos of:

• the point of entry, including the door, frame, strike plate, lock and any tool marks;
• broken windows or damaged screens;
• every room that was disturbed;
• serial numbers, receipts or photos of stolen items if you have them.

These records help police and make insurance claims far smoother. Your locksmith will also find photos of the original damage useful if they arrive after you have started cleaning up.

Fourth: call your insurer

Contact your home and contents insurer as soon as practical. Ask whether they have preferred tradespeople, whether you can arrange urgent work to make the home secure yourself, and what documentation they need. Most insurers expect you to take reasonable steps to secure the property promptly, and will want an invoice that describes the damage and the work done.

Fifth: make the entry point secure

This is where a locksmith comes in. The priority on the first visit is simple: get the house to a state where every external door closes and locks properly tonight.

What forced doors usually look like

In most forced entries we attend, the lock itself has not been picked or defeated cleverly. Instead:

• the strike plate has torn out of the frame, because it was held by short screws that only reached the soft door stop or architrave;
• the timber around the strike has split;
• the lock body has bent or cracked under force;
• the door has been pushed out of alignment, so it no longer closes cleanly.

What we do on the day

1. Assess the door, frame, lock and strike together.
2. Replace any damaged lock or cylinder with hardware that fits the existing preparation where possible.
3. Refix or replace the strike plate using long screws that reach the wall framing.
4. Adjust the door so it closes and latches properly.
5. Where the frame or door is too badly damaged for a full repair on the day, make the opening as secure as the remaining structure allows and tell you exactly what still needs a carpenter or a replacement door.

We explain what we find, agree the price with you and provide a detailed invoice for your insurer. Our emergency locksmith page covers how we handle urgent work like this.

Sixth: think about keys

Break-ins sometimes involve stolen keys: spare keys in a drawer, car keys with house keys attached, or a bag taken from the hallway. If there is any chance that keys to your home were taken, or that the intruder could identify your address from what was taken, rekey the external locks.

Rekeying changes the internal combination of each cylinder so that existing keys, including stolen ones, no longer work. It is usually quicker and cheaper than replacing every lock, and it can often be done on the same visit as the repair. Our lock rekeying page explains how it works.

Remember garage remotes, gate keys, mailbox keys and alarm codes too.

Seventh: fix the other weak points

Once the immediate damage is dealt with, it is worth looking at the rest of the house. Intruders tend to choose the easiest way in, and if one door was weak, others may be too.

Back, side and laundry doors. These are often less secure than the front door and out of sight from the street. Many have only a simple latch. Adding a deadlock is one of the most effective upgrades. See door lock installation.

Strike plates everywhere. If the forced door had short strike screws, the other doors probably do too. Upgrading them all is inexpensive and effective.

Sliding doors. Worn latches and doors that can be lifted off their tracks are common weak points. An auxiliary lock helps.

Windows. Ground-floor windows, especially at the back or side, benefit from keyed locks. Our window locks page explains the options.

Internal garage doors. A door from the garage into the house deserves a deadlock, not just a passage latch.

French doors. Common in older homes in Wahroonga and Hornsby, and often secured only by small bolts.

Our security locksmith service is designed for exactly this: a walk-through of every entry point, a prioritised list of what matters, and prices for each so you can choose.

What not to waste money on

After a break-in, it is natural to want to do everything at once. A few cautions:

• Expensive locks on weak doors. A high-security lock on a hollow-core or damaged door does little. Fix the door and frame first.
• Gadgets instead of basics. Chains and portable devices are no substitute for a door that closes, latches and locks properly.
• Key-only deadlocks everywhere. Locks that need a key on the inside can trap people during a fire. Keep safe exit in mind.
• Pressure selling. A good locksmith will give you a prioritised list and let you decide. Be wary of anyone insisting everything must be replaced today.

How intruders usually choose a way in

Understanding how break-ins typically happen helps you prioritise. Most residential burglaries are opportunistic rather than carefully planned. Intruders look for the quickest, quietest way in with the least chance of being seen. That usually means:

• an unlocked door or window, which is still one of the most common entry points;
• a back or side door out of view, where a few seconds of force will not be noticed;
• a sliding door with a worn latch, which can sometimes be lifted or levered;
• a door with a weak strike, which gives way under a firm kick or push;
• a window near a lock, where breaking the glass lets someone reach the inside handle.

Very few intruders spend time picking locks. That is why the practical fixes in this guide, strike plates, deadlocks on secondary doors, sliding door locks and window locks, matter far more than buying the most expensive cylinder available.

Making it harder next time

Locks are only one layer. Once the doors and windows are sound, a few everyday habits make a real difference:

• Lock up every time, including back doors and windows, even when you are only out briefly.
• Do not leave keys near doors or in obvious places such as under mats or pot plants.
• Keep car keys and house keys separate where practical, so a stolen car key does not also open your front door.
• Trim plants near doors and windows so they cannot hide someone working on a lock.
• Use outdoor lighting at the back and sides of the house.
• Get to know your neighbours, who are often the first to notice something unusual.

How long the repairs take

Making the house secure on the day is usually achievable. Full repairs can take longer: a split door frame may need a carpenter, a badly damaged door may need replacing, and glazing must be done by a glazier. We tell you what we can complete on the day, what is temporary, and what still needs another trade, so you can plan with your insurer.

Looking after yourself

Break-ins affect people in different ways. Some feel anxious at home for weeks afterwards, especially at night. Practical security improvements help many people feel safer, but if the feeling persists, talking to someone helps too. Victims of crime support services in NSW can offer advice and support.

Renters and break-ins

If you rent, tell your agent or landlord as soon as possible after reporting the break-in to police. Damaged locks and doors are usually treated as urgent repairs, and the landlord will often arrange or approve the work. If you need the property made secure immediately and cannot reach them, keep the invoice and photos so the cost can be sorted out afterwards. Our guide to landlord and tenant lock change rules explains the general position in NSW.

A short checklist

1. Make sure you are safe; call 000 if anyone may still be inside.
2. Report the break-in and get an event number.
3. Photograph everything before tidying or repairs.
4. Call your insurer.
5. Have damaged doors and locks made secure the same day.
6. Rekey if any keys may have been taken.
7. Check and fix other weak entry points.
8. Keep every invoice and report together.

Getting help

Locksmith Hornsby Service is based at 14 Hunter St, Hornsby NSW 2077, and is open 7 days, 7:00am to 12:00am. Call 02 4404 0445 and tell us what has happened. We will tell you honestly when we can attend, agree the price before starting and leave you with a clear invoice for your insurer. For follow-up security work, you can also request a quote online.