Burglary repair in Bristol.
Your door secure again, the same day.
After a break-in, you need someone you trust at the door — fast. We replace the damaged locks, secure your door, and give you a fully itemised invoice for your insurance claim. No call-out fee. No VAT. Same price 24/7.
What we do — and what we don’t
We’re a locksmith, not a building contractor. Knowing where our work ends matters as much as knowing where it starts — especially when you’re trying to make a clean insurance claim.
What we do
- Assess the lock and door damage on arrival
- Remove broken, snapped, or compromised cylinders
- Fit new British Standard or 3-star anti-snap locks
- Realign and secure UPVC doors with damaged keeps or strikers
- Adjust hinges where the door has been forced
- Replace handles, escutcheons, and lock fittings damaged in the break-in
- Test the door operates and locks properly before we leave
- Provide a fully itemised invoice with our trade body details for your insurer
- Recommend security upgrades to reduce your risk of a repeat incident
What we don’t do
- Board up smashed windows or doors
- Replace broken glass or window panes
- Replace whole doors or door frames
- Carpentry repairs beyond securing the lock and handle
- Alarm or CCTV installation
If your door or frame is damaged beyond securing with a new lock, we’ll tell you straight on arrival and recommend a local trade you can trust. We won’t pretend the door is fixed if it isn’t.
From break-in to secure door, step by step
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1
Call the police first
On 101 if it’s already happened, 999 if you think someone is still inside or nearby. Get a crime reference number — you’ll need it for your insurer, and you’ll need it before we can legally start work.
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2
Don’t touch anything obvious
The police may want to take fingerprints or photos. Try not to clean up around the damaged door or window until they’ve been. They’ll usually attend within a few hours for a residential burglary.
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3
Call us — we’ll arrive in 30 minutes
Once the police have what they need, phone us. Send a photo of the damaged door on WhatsApp if you can — it helps us bring the right replacement parts on the first visit, so the door is secured in one trip.
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4
We secure the door, you get an insurance-ready invoice
New locks fitted, door tested, written invoice in your hand or by email. Includes our trade body details, parts list, labour, and crime reference number — everything your insurer asks for.
What burglary repair usually costs
Every burglary is different, so the prices below are typical ranges, not fixed quotes. We’ll always give you the exact price before we start work — never after. Most policies include emergency locksmith cover up to £100–£250, so you may pay nothing out of pocket.
Snapped UPVC lock replacement
Most common burglary method on Bristol homes
usually from £110
Standard British Standard cylinder. Anti-snap 3-star upgrade usually from £165.
Forced wooden door — lock change
Mortice lock or night latch replaced and tested
usually from £95
Door securing only. Frame repairs need a carpenter.
Multi-point mechanism replacement
When the gearbox or shoot bolts are damaged
usually from £185
UPVC and composite doors. Mechanism, hooks, and rollers tested.
Full lock-set upgrade after burglary
Multiple doors re-keyed to one new key
usually from £280
Front and back doors, garage, side gate — all keyed alike.
Same price, 24/7. No surcharge for evenings, weekends or bank holidays. No call-out fee — ever: if we come out and can’t solve your problem, you don’t pay. No VAT. Every quote is given before we start work, never after.
Will my insurance cover this?
Most home insurance policies in the UK include emergency locksmith cover up to £100–£250 as part of the buildings or contents section. Some cover the full replacement cost of the lock too.
We give you a fully itemised invoice with our trade body details, the crime reference number, the parts and labour broken out, and the date and time of the work. That’s what insurers ask for. If they want to authorise the work before we start, we’ll wait while you check — just have your policy number ready when you call.
Tip: if you can, call your insurer’s emergency line before you call us. Some have preferred suppliers and may direct-bill the locksmith so you don’t pay anything.
Don’t become a repeat statistic
Burglars share information. Properties that have been broken into once are more likely to be targeted again within 12 months. The single most effective upgrade is replacing the cylinder — the bit of the lock the burglar actually attacked.
3-star anti-snap cylinders
Designed specifically to defeat snapping, the method used in around two-thirds of UPVC door break-ins. The cylinder sacrifices a section under attack but keeps the lock secure. The British Kitemark 3-star rating is the strongest defence available for euro-cylinder doors.
Learn about anti-snap locks →Re-keying after a break-in
If keys were taken, or if you suspect a key may have been copied, we re-key every lock on the property to a new set of keys. We can also key the locks alike — one key operates the front door, back door, garage, side gate, and garden shed.
Call to discuss →After a burglary — what people ask
Do I have to call the police before calling you?
Yes. We’re not legally allowed to alter the scene of a crime before the police have attended — that could destroy evidence. Call 101 (or 999 if there’s any chance an intruder is still nearby), get a crime reference number, and call us straight after. Most Bristol burglaries get a police response within a few hours.
How quickly can you get to me?
From our Bristol base, we’re typically with you in 20–30 minutes across inner Bristol (Clifton, Bedminster, Bishopston, Easton) and 30–40 minutes for outer areas. After a burglary we prioritise the call — if it’s feasible, we’ll come straight away.
Will my home insurance cover the cost?
Most policies do, up to a fixed amount. The cover is usually under “emergency assistance” or “home emergency” in your buildings or contents policy. Check the policy schedule for the exact limit — typical figures are £100–£250. We give you the paperwork insurers need to process the claim, and if your insurer wants to authorise the work first, we’ll wait while you check.
Do you board up broken windows or doors?
No — we’re locksmiths, not glaziers or carpenters. We secure the lock and door so the property can be locked, but boarding up broken glass or replacing smashed window panes is outside our scope. If you need that done, we’ll recommend a local trade we trust.
Should I change all the locks, or just the broken one?
It depends. If keys were taken or copied, change all the locks — or at minimum re-key them so the old keys no longer work. If only one lock was forced and no keys were taken, replacing just that lock is usually enough. We’ll give you our honest recommendation based on what we see at the property, with no pressure to upgrade more than necessary.
Can you upgrade me to anti-snap locks at the same visit?
Yes — this is one of the most common upgrades after a burglary, and it makes sense to do it while we’re already there. 3-star Kitemark anti-snap cylinders are the strongest defence on the market against lock snapping. We carry common sizes on the van so the upgrade can usually be done the same visit.
Need a Bristol locksmith after a break-in?
Crime reference number ready? Phone us. We’ll be there in 30 minutes.
Call 0784 666 2889 Open 24 hours, 7 days. Calls answered in person.
