LOCKSMITH & SECURITY ADVICE · REVIEWED 13 NOVEMBER 2026
Making your home secure after a burglary
Put safety first, preserve evidence and coordinate temporary repairs with police and your insurer.
Report and preserve evidence
If a burglar may still be inside, a crime is happening now or anyone is in immediate danger, stay somewhere safe and call 999. For a completed incident without immediate danger, report through the police non-emergency route.
- Avoid touching or cleaning disturbed surfaces, broken glass or items left behind until police advise.
- Photograph damage if safe and tell police about any recordings or other evidence.
- Keep original CCTV or doorbell footage. Ask police before changing recording settings or resetting devices.
Arrange securing and follow-up
Ask police how to secure the property without losing useful evidence, then contact your insurer before commissioning work if possible. Make clear whether you need temporary securing now or a permanent repair later.
- Confirm the estimated call-out cost, a work estimate and consent to any extras.
- Keep damaged parts if requested, the crime reference and invoices.
- After immediate repairs, review stolen keys, affected locks, frames and other accessible openings. An upgrade reduces risk but cannot guarantee there will be no further burglary.
Sources & review
Original directory guidance based on the sources below, checked13November2026. It is general information; confirm your own equipment, policy, access rights and circumstances.