Changing Your Locks After a Break-In in the GTA: The First 24 Hours

Coming home to a kicked-in door or a smashed sidelight is a rotten feeling. Once the shock wears off, the practical question is simple: how do I make this place secure again tonight?

Here's a plain order of operations for the first day after a break-in, from the police report to getting the locks sorted out.

1. Make sure it's safe, then call the police

If you think someone might still be inside, don't go in. Leave, and call 911.

If it's over and nobody's hurt, report it. Toronto, Peel, York, Durham and Halton police each have a non-emergency line, and some reports can be filed online. Ask for an occurrence number. Your insurance company will want it.

2. Photograph everything before you touch it

Before you clean up or get anything fixed, take photos and video of:

• The door, frame, lock and strike plate
• Any broken glass
• Pry marks on windows, patio doors and the garage door
• Rooms that were gone through

Insurers usually want to see the damage before repairs. Keep receipts for anything you pay for tonight, including emergency repairs.

3. Figure out how they got in

How they got in decides what needs fixing. Common patterns:

• Kicked door. The lock often survives, but the wood frame around the strike plate splits. The deadbolt may still turn, but it has nothing solid to lock into.
• Pried door or patio door. A bent latch, a damaged strike or a sliding door that no longer latches tight.
• Broken glass. A sidelight or door window smashed so someone could reach in and turn the deadbolt.
• No sign of forced entry. Think hard about keys: a hidden spare, a lost set, a garage door left open, an unlocked back door.

4. Secure every opening tonight

The goal for night one is simple. Every door locks, and nothing can be pushed open.

• A split door frame may need temporary reinforcement until it can be properly repaired.
• A broken window or sidelight can be covered with plywood for the night.
• A sliding patio door can be blocked with a wooden dowel or bar in the bottom track.
• Try not to leave a damaged door "closed but not locked" overnight.

Our emergency locksmith service covers break-in repair 24/7, including lock replacement, frame repair and reinforcing entry points.

5. Rekey or replace?

Rekey when the lock wasn't damaged but you're worried about keys. Rekeying changes the inside of the cylinder so the old keys stop working. It's the right call if keys were stolen, a spare was taken from a hiding spot, or the intruder found keys inside.

Replace when the lock was damaged, drilled, snapped or pried, or when the hardware was cheap to begin with. It's also a good moment to upgrade: a solid deadbolt, a reinforced strike plate, or a smart lock if you want to see who comes and goes.

The strike plate matters as much as the lock. A deadbolt is only as strong as the frame it locks into, and short screws in a thin door jamb are a weak point on a lot of GTA homes. Longer screws that reach the wall framing make a real difference.

If keys were taken, rekey every exterior door those keys opened, not just the one they used. If a garage remote was taken, have it erased from the opener too.

6. Check the other doors and windows

Walk the whole place. It's common to find a second door or window that was tried first.

• Back and side doors
• The door from the garage into the house
• Basement windows and walk-outs
• Sliding patio doors
• Ground-floor window latches

Renters and condo owners

If you rent, call your landlord right away. In Ontario, a tenant generally needs the landlord's consent to change the locks, and a landlord who changes them has to give you a key. Many landlords will approve an emergency lock change the same day once they know what happened.

In a condo, tell management or security. They'll want to know for the rest of the building, and some buildings control unit door hardware or ask for a copy of any new key.

7. Make it harder next time

Once the urgent part is done:

• Add lighting at the back of the house and along the side path. From October on, it's dark in the GTA by dinner.
• Stop hiding spare keys outside. Leave one with a neighbour instead.
• If you travel over the holidays, put lights on timers and have someone clear the porch and driveway.
• Ask about reinforced strike plates and longer screws on every exterior door, not just the one that was hit.

We do lock changes, rekeying and smart lock installs through our residential locksmith service. If the break-in was at your store or office, our commercial locksmith service covers storefront and office locks.

What to tell us when you call

Call or text (647) 788-8778 with:

1. Your address and nearest intersection
2. How they got in, and which doors were damaged
3. Whether any keys or garage remotes were taken
4. Whether the door still closes and latches
5. Photos of the lock, the edge of the door and the frame

We work across the GTA, including Toronto, North York, Mississauga, Markham and Richmond Hill.

Just had a break-in? Call or text GTA Locksmith at (647) 788-8778, any time, day or night. Seniors get 10% off and veterans get 20% off. We accept cash, Interac debit and e-Transfer.