Do I need a crime reference number for insurance?

Yes, almost always. Most home insurers require a crime reference number before they will process a burglary claim. The police provide one when you report the break-in, either at the scene, by phone on 101, or online. Get this number before arranging significant repairs where possible, since some insurers also want to see photos of the damage before it is fixed.

Should I change the locks even if the burglar didn't take my keys?

In most cases, yes. If any lock was forced, drilled, snapped or otherwise damaged during the break-in, it needs replacing regardless of whether keys went missing, because a compromised lock no longer does its job. Even where the door itself was not forced — a spare key found, a window used instead — many people choose to change affected locks for peace of mind. That is a reasonable call after a break-in.

What should I secure first after a break-in?

Whatever point of entry the burglar used, first. Close and secure a forced door, even temporarily, before anything else, since it is the immediate route back into the property. After that, check every other external door and window on the same visit, since a burglar who forced one point of entry may have tried others.

How quickly can locks be replaced after a burglary?

A locksmith can usually arrange a straightforward lock replacement on a single damaged door the same day, particularly where a quick temporary secure is needed until a full repair or replacement can be scheduled. Get a temporary secure in place first if you cannot get a full repair done immediately, rather than leaving a forced door unsecured overnight.

Guide

What to Do After a Burglary: Step-by-Step UK Guide

Name: Bayswater Locksmiths
Price range: ££

The right order of steps after a break-in in London: staying safe, reporting it, contacting your insurer, securing the property and replacing locks today.

Written by Bayswater Locksmiths · last reviewed 8 September 2026

After a break-in, the order of steps matters. First, make sure everyone is safe and the burglar has gone. Then report it to the police and get a crime reference number, and contact your insurer before arranging repairs where possible. Finally, get any forced door or window properly secured — first temporarily if needed, then permanently — with damaged locks replaced as part of that.

Doing things in this order protects both your safety and your insurance claim. Doing them out of order, particularly repairing damage before it is reported or photographed, can cause avoidable problems with a claim later.

First: make sure it’s safe

If you have just discovered a break-in and are not sure whether anyone is still inside, do not go in. Leave the property and call the police from somewhere safe. If you are already inside when you realise something is wrong, leave calmly if you can do so safely, rather than confronting anyone. Once you are safe, the next steps can follow at a slightly less urgent pace.

Report it and get a crime reference number

Call the police to report the burglary — 999 if it has just happened or you believe someone may still be nearby, 101 for a burglary discovered after the fact. You will be given a crime reference number, which almost every home insurer requires before processing a claim. Try to avoid tidying up or repairing anything significant before the police have seen the scene, or at least before you have photographed the damage. Evidence and insurance documentation both benefit from an accurate record of how things were found.

Contact your insurer

Call your insurer as soon as you reasonably can, with the crime reference number to hand. Ask what they need from you — photos of the damage are almost always wanted before repairs begin, and some policies have a time limit for reporting a claim. If a forced door or window genuinely cannot be left insecure overnight, most insurers accept that an emergency temporary secure was necessary. Keep the invoice, since it usually forms part of the claim.

Secure the property

Deal with whatever point of entry was used first, even temporarily, because it is the immediate route back into the property while it stands open or unsecured. A temporary board-up or a functioning lock reinstated on a damaged door buys time until a full repair can be scheduled properly. While a locksmith or tradesperson is already there, it is worth checking every other external door and window on the same visit. A burglar who forced one entry point may have tested others without necessarily using them.

Replace the locks

Any lock that was forced, drilled, snapped or otherwise damaged during the break-in needs replacing. A compromised lock does not return to full strength once the door is closed again. This is also a sensible point to upgrade rather than simply reinstate what was there before.

Maybe the original lock did not meet the BS3621 standard, or a uPVC door’s euro cylinder was not anti-snap rated. A burglary repair is the natural moment to fix that too.

See burglary repair for what a full post-break-in visit typically covers, and lock change for straightforward replacements.

Take stock of what’s missing

Once you have dealt with the immediate security, go through the property methodically. Note what is missing, ideally room by room, and photograph the damage throughout — forced doors, broken glazing, disturbed rooms. This record supports both the police report and the insurance claim. It is far easier to do accurately in the days immediately after the burglary than to reconstruct weeks later.

Looking after yourself, too

A break-in is unsettling even when nothing valuable was taken, and feeling uneasy in your own home afterwards is a normal reaction, not an overreaction. There is no fixed timeline for that to pass. Some people feel steadier once the locks are changed and the property feels secure again, others find it takes longer, and either is fine.

If the burglary has left you feeling unsafe day to day, it is worth mentioning. Your GP or a support service such as Victim Support deal with exactly this.

Arranging a burglary repair

If you need a door secured or locks replaced today, tell us what was forced and roughly where you are. We will give you a clear price before travelling. Get in touch: request a call back or use the contact page — see also how to check a locksmith if you are arranging this under pressure and want to be sure who you are dealing with.