However, if you discover that there has been a break-in, you must act as soon as possible.
First of all, do not touch anything and call the Police straightaway.
You can call your local police station or the metropolitan police. However, if you have reasons to think that the burglar is still in your property, go to your car (remember to lock it from the inside!) or to your neighbours’ house and call 999 straightaway.
If you are able to get into your property, in case the burglar is not in, make an inventory and – without touching anything – try to notice what has been lost. If your wallet or cards are gone, call your bank and cancel the card not to have your money stolen from the account.
Then, call your landlord (if you have one) and insurance company. Last but not least, call a local locksmith to repair your door, frame and locks after a burglary.
If your doors or locks are damaged after a burglary, you obviously need them repaired or changed.
Even if there is no damage, you often need to change your locks or get security enhancements according to particular needs of your property and the character of the area you stay in.
First of all, because the burglar can return to your property, and secondly – because perhaps you need more resistant locks that those which have just failed you, or at least some security enhancements.
Check Google reviews, local Facebook pages or TrustATrader.com and search for a trusted local locksmith who is going to give you a free security check and assess your security needs.
Try to search for locksmiths who specialise in burglary repairs. They will take care of your property, be it your office, your apartment or even your Airbnb, to make sure that you are safe and sound for the future – after all, it’s not just the security that matters but also your peace of mind.
If you wish to avoid another burglary, ask your locksmith about safest locks in the UK.
Usually, a trained locksmith professional is going to recommend installing BS3621 standard compliant, insurance companies approved and burglary resistant locks, including 5 lever mortice deadlock, multipoint locking system and a night latch from such leading companies as ERA, Ingersoll Rand, Chubb Locks, Union, Yale, MUL-T-LOCK and others.
A locksmith is going to pick the security solutions which are best for your needs and which – most likely – will enable you to meet the safety technical standards required by most British insurance companies.
Apart from that, he is going to check security of your windows and, if you don’t have window locks installed, or if they got damaged during the burglary, you are going to be presented with window security options. Especially if you stay in London or other large city on a ground or first floor, window locks are a must. If you have uPVC doors and windows, it’s worth looking for a locksmith who specialises in uPVC mechanisms
In general, choosing professional locksmiths instead of repairing a broken lock yourself, is a must and saves you both time and money.
Especially after a burglary, it is important to trust professionally trained locksmiths who are going to make sure that you have the right locks fitted.
After a burglary you have a lot of hassle anyway – starting from calling the Police and your insurers’ and ending with cleaning your property.
Luckily, there are professional local locksmiths who are going to take care of everything. Just search for “emergency locksmith near me” or “burglary repairs in my area” to get professional help and secure your property.
Additionally, you should also consider joining a neighborhood watch scheme to protect your area from thieves.
Sources:
https://www.statista.com/statistics/956906/burglaries-in-england-and-wales/
https://www.police.uk/pu/advice-crime-prevention/
