When a window or door is left open by a break-in, an attempted forced entry, vandalism or an accident, the priority is simple: make the property safe, secure and weatherproof again before anything else can get in or be damaged further. That is exactly what emergency boarding up is for, and it is one of the most common reasons people call us out at night. We cover homes, flats, shops and commercial premises, and because we are local you are dealing with a real, named locksmith rather than a call centre passing the job on. The aim on every call-out is the same: leave you with a property that is closed up, dry and — wherever we possibly can — lockable again before we leave, so you are not left waiting on a glazier or a joiner just to feel safe overnight.
When you need emergency boarding up
We are called out to board up and make secure after all of the following:
- A burglary or attempted break-in that has left a door or window forced, smashed or no longer closing.
- Vandalism or a smashed shop front, glass door or window.
- Storm, impact or accidental damage that has broken glazing or sprung a frame.
- A door or lock that has failed so badly the property can no longer be locked at all.
What we do when we arrive
Our first job is to make the property safe. We carefully clear away dangerous broken glass, then measure and fit cut-to-size boarding over the open window or door so the opening is solid and weatherproof. Wherever the frame and lock allow, we go a step further than simply boarding: we re-secure or fit a temporary or replacement lock so you can actually lock up and hold a key, rather than just having a sealed panel. If the lock or frame is too badly damaged to make lockable on the spot, we board securely and arrange the follow-up repair. We work tidily and take the mess away with us, and before we leave we check the boarded opening holds firm and, where we have made it lockable, that the key turns cleanly and the door pulls up properly against the frame — so you are genuinely secured, not just covered over.
Making secure first, permanent repair second
Boarding up is a make-safe measure, not the finished job. It buys you a secure, dry, lockable property tonight; the permanent fix — new glazing, a new door or frame, or upgraded locks — follows once the immediate risk is dealt with. We are happy to handle both, and because we carry locks and tools, we can often fit anti-snap or higher-security locks at the same visit so you come out of the situation more secure than before, not less. Where the glass is the only casualty and the frame and lock are sound, the follow-up may be as simple as a reglaze; where the door or mechanism has been forced, that is the moment to step up to a TS007 3-star anti-snap cylinder or a British Standard lock rather than replacing like for like. We will tell you honestly which of the two you are looking at and give you a fixed price before any further work, with no pressure to do more than the situation needs.
Insurance and your claim
Most home and business insurance policies expect you to take reasonable steps to prevent further loss or damage after an incident — and securing an open property is exactly that. We give you a clear, itemised invoice and can take photographs of the damage and the work, which is the kind of documentation insurers usually want to see for a claim. We are not your insurer, so always check your own policy wording or speak to your claims line, but having the property professionally secured and documented puts you in a strong position. For business premises this matters just as much: a boarded, lockable shop front lets you close up and reopen on your own terms rather than standing guard over an open unit, and the same itemised paperwork supports a commercial claim. Keep everything we give you together with any crime reference number from the police, as insurers routinely ask for both.
After a break-in — handled with care
A break-in is upsetting as well as inconvenient, and getting the property secured quickly is a big part of feeling safe again. We work calmly and discreetly, prioritise vulnerable customers, and can talk you through sensible security upgrades without any pressure. If you have just discovered a break-in, our guide on what to do after a break-in walks through the immediate steps, and our burglary repairs service covers the full make-good once the property is secure.
