Change Locks After a Break-In: The Steps That Matter
Locksmith Milwaukee Now repairs and changes locks after a break-in in Milwaukee and about 30 miles around it. A lock change starts at $99, a lock repair at $79, and a rekey at $59 for the first lock. We work 24/7, every day of the year. Call or text us.
What to do first
Change locks after a break-in, but not before the police have seen the door. If you come home and find a door forced, step back outside and call the police from a safe place, because someone may still be inside. Touch as little as you can until an officer has looked at the door, the lock, and the frame. Then take photos, get the report number for your insurance, and make the door lock again before night. In Milwaukee a lock change starts at $99, a lock repair at $79, and we work 24/7, so the door does not have to stay open overnight.
The steps, in order
- Get safe and call the policeLeave the house, call from outside, and wait for officers before you walk through the rooms.
- Photograph the damageTake wide shots of the door and close shots of the lock, the strike plate, and the frame before anything is moved.
- Get the report numberYour insurer asks for it, along with the photos and a list of what was taken or damaged.
- Secure the door the same nightA forced door that will not latch is an open door. A temporary repair is better than a chair against it.
- Repair or replace the damaged partsThe strike plate, the frame, the bolt, and sometimes the whole lock, with longer screws into the wall framing.
- Rekey if keys were takenIf a spare key, a key ring, or a garage remote is missing, rekey every outside lock and clear the remote.
How burglars get in
In the FBI's 2018 crime report, 56.7 percent of burglaries involved forcible entry, and 36.7 percent were unlawful entries where no force was used, such as through an unlocked door or an open window. The rest were attempts. In practice that means two things for a house: the door and frame must hold up to a kick or a pry bar, and the locks must actually be locked.
A kicked door rarely fails at the key. It fails at the strike plate, the metal plate in the frame where the bolt goes. On many houses that plate is held by short screws in a thin strip of soft wood, and a hard kick splits the wood around it. The bolt is still out, still locked, and the door swings open anyway.
What we check on a forced door
A break-in can damage parts you cannot see from the outside. At the door we check:
- The frame around the strike plate, for splits and gaps.
- The strike plate, for bending or tearing.
- The bolt and the latch, for bending and for whether they still line up with the frame.
- The cylinder, for drilling, prying, or a pulled core.
- The hinges and their screws, because a kick can loosen the hinge side as well.
- The door itself, for cracks near the lock.
When the bolt no longer lines up with the strike, a new lock alone will not fix the door. The frame gets repaired first, then the strike plate is reset so the bolt slides in without rubbing.
Strike plates and long screws
The single repair that does the most for a kicked door is a strong strike plate held by long screws. Screws about 3 inches long pass through the door frame and reach the wall framing behind it, so a kick has to break the house framing, which is far stronger than a thin strip of trim. Many newer deadbolts come with long screws or a reinforced strike in the box. On older doors we often add them, and we put at least one long screw in each hinge too.
If the frame is split badly, a metal reinforcement plate along the frame can hold it together. For a front door that faced one kick already, we usually suggest a sturdy Grade 1 or Grade 2 deadbolt with a 1-inch bolt. Our page on deadbolt grades explains the difference between the grades.
Rekey or replace after a break-in
The answer depends on what was damaged and what was taken.
If the lock was damaged, replace it. A bent bolt or a drilled cylinder will not be reliable again. A lock change starts at $99 with the work included.
If the lock is fine but keys were taken, rekey it. Burglars sometimes take spare keys from a drawer or a hook, and those keys fit every lock on the house. A rekey makes them useless.
If the lock is fine and nothing was taken, the lock may only need the frame and strike repaired around it. A lock repair starts at $79.
If a garage remote was in a car that was broken into, clear every remote from the opener. Our page on whether to rekey or replace locks explains each case in more detail.
If you rent
Tell your landlord or property manager right away. The landlord owns the door and the locks, and most leases say the landlord arranges the repair. Ask for the repair and the rekey in writing, with photos.
Wisconsin law also has a specific rule for tenants who face a threat from a particular person. Under state statute 704.16, a tenant who gives the landlord an official court copy of an injunction, a restraining order, or a criminal complaint against that person can ask for the locks to be changed. The landlord must change them, or allow the tenant to change them, within 48 hours, and the tenant pays for the change. If the tenant changes the locks, the landlord gets a key.
Papers for the insurance claim
Insurers usually ask for the police report number, photos of the damage, and receipts for the repair. Ask the locksmith for a receipt that lists each part and the labor separately. Keep the broken parts until the claim is settled, because an adjuster may want to see them.
What it costs
| Lock repair | from $79 |
|---|---|
| Lock change | from $99 |
| Deadbolt installation | from $119 |
| Rekey, first lock | from $59 |
A lock repair starts at $79, a lock change at $99, and a new deadbolt on a door without one at $119. A rekey starts at $59 for the first lock. Frame repair and reinforcement plates add to the total, and we tell you the price before we start. A trip fee may apply at some times and places.
Cities we serve around Milwaukee
Milwaukee and about 30 miles around it: Milwaukee County, Waukesha County, Ozaukee County, Washington County, and Racine County.
Questions about locks after a break-in
Should I change my locks after a break-in?
Replace any lock that was damaged, and rekey the rest if keys were taken. If nothing was taken and the lock is fine, repair the frame and the strike plate around it.
How soon can the door be secured?
We work 24/7, so we can come out at night. Most forced doors can be made to lock again on that visit, and a badly split frame may need a second visit.
Does insurance pay for new locks after a break-in?
Many homeowner and renter policies cover damage from a break-in, but each policy is different. Ask your insurer, and keep the photos, the report number, and the receipt.
What makes a door harder to kick in?
A strong strike plate with screws about 3 inches long into the wall framing, a deadbolt with a 1-inch bolt, and long screws in the hinges.
Who pays for new locks in a rental?
Usually the landlord arranges the repair. Under Wisconsin statute 704.16, a tenant who asks for a lock change with a court order or a criminal complaint pays for that change.