Case study · Fylde Coast

Repairing doors after a break-in

What forced entry actually does to a door, photographed on real jobs, and how it's put right.

Mortice lock surround split open where the door was forced.

Lock case exposed after the timber around it was broken away.

A mortice lock pocket gouged out, with the timber splintered around the keyhole.

Holes drilled around a keyhole in a laminate door.

Split timber around a mortice lock after the door was forced.

Keeps torn out of a door frame, with a broken panel boarded up.

These photos are from real jobs on the Fylde Coast where a door had been forced or drilled. Forcing a door rarely defeats a good lock cleanly; it breaks the wood around it. Mortice pockets split, keeps are torn out of the frame, and panels get smashed.

The first job is to make the property secure the same day: board any broken glass or panels, and fit a working lock so you can lock up. After that, the door and frame are repaired properly: timber repaired or reinforced around the lock, new keeps fitted into sound wood, and the lock replaced with an insurance-rated one (BS 3621 for mortice locks).

If you've had a break-in, report it to the police first and get a crime reference number, because your insurer will ask for it. Take photos of the damage before anything is repaired, and keep the locksmith's receipt showing the work done and the lock fitted.

Can you secure my door the same day after a break-in?

Yes. The priority is making the property secure straight away: boarding broken panels and fitting a working lock. Full repairs to the door and frame can follow once it's safe.

Locked out, or a lock that's seen better days?

Call Adam directly on 07306 107676. Available 24 hours, usually with you in 20–40 minutes across the Fylde Coast. Read our Google reviews.