Locksmith After a Break-In — Denver & South Metro

What to Do After You Discover a Break-In

1. Call 911 if there is any chance the burglar is still inside. Wait outside; do not enter to assess damage.
2. If police have already cleared the scene, photograph everything — broken locks, pry marks on the door frame, broken windows, scattered contents — before touching anything.
3. File a police report if not already filed. Get the report number; you will need it for insurance.
4. Call us at (720) 299-9964. We dispatch within 30–60 minutes for break-in calls.
5. Contact your homeowners insurance carrier after we secure the property and provide written documentation.

What We Do at the Scene

Immediate security restoration — Replace any forced-entry locks immediately so the property is securable for the night. We carry standard residential and high-security stock for same-day install.

Damage documentation — Written work order with photos, listing every compromised lock, every damaged frame, and every recommended replacement. This document goes to your insurance carrier and matches the police report.

Forensic identification of the entry method — We tell you exactly how the burglar got in: kicked the front door (frame failure), bumped the deadbolt, pried the back door, lifted the sliding door off the track, broke a basement window, walked through the unlocked garage door. This matters because burglars often return to the same property using the same method 30-90 days later, especially if the homeowner left for repairs or was hospitalized after the event.

Whole-home rekey — If keys were taken or could have been copied during the break-in (e.g., the burglar entered the master bedroom and had access to your purse), we rekey every exterior lock on the property to prevent return entry.

Written upgrade recommendations — Based on the entry method, we recommend specific upgrades to defeat the same attack on a return visit. See the full home security assessment for what we cover.

Common Break-In Patterns We See in Denver Metro

Front door kick-in — Burglar kicks the front door at the strike plate. Standard 1" strike plate screws (builder grade) fail under a single kick. Fix: 3" strike plate screws ($65–$95), and ideally a steel-reinforced strike box.

Patio door lift-off — Burglar lifts the sliding patio door off the track. Most common in Highlands Ranch backyard-facing homes. Fix: anti-jimmy charley bar ($95–$165) and foot bolt ($85–$145).

Garage walk-through entry — Burglar enters via the unlocked side-entry door, then through the (often unlocked) interior mudroom. Fix: smart lock with auto-lock on side door + high-security deadbolt on mudroom interior door ($585–$985).

Basement window break — Burglar breaks a basement window and crawls through. Most common on uncovered window wells. Fix: window well covers (third-party install) + window break sensors.

Bump key on front deadbolt — Burglar uses a bump key (or pick gun) on a builder-grade Kwikset/Schlage deadbolt. Standard residential locks are vulnerable. Fix: high-security deadbolt (Medeco / Mul-T-Lock / Schlage Primus, $385–$520).

Pricing — Post Break-In Service

Insurance Documentation

Most homeowners insurance policies cover lock replacement and rekeying after a break-in under the "reasonable security restoration" clause. To file a claim, your insurance carrier needs: (1) the police report number, (2) photos of the damage, and (3) a written invoice from a licensed locksmith listing what was replaced and why. We provide #3 in writing on every break-in job, including our locksmith license number, the specific lock models replaced, and the labor breakdown. This standard format works with State Farm, Allstate, USAA, Liberty Mutual, Farmers, Travelers, and most other carriers.

Call (720) 299-9964 immediately. We dispatch 24/7 (7am–midnight emergency, on-call after hours) anywhere in Denver, Highlands Ranch, Centennial, Lone Tree, Castle Pines, Castle Rock, Parker, and the south metro.