Coming home or arriving at work to find a door forced or a lock damaged is unsettling. Your priorities, in order: stay safe, report it, secure the building, then fix whatever let the intruder in so it doesn't happen again. This guide walks through each step and explains when to rekey, when to replace and which upgrades are worth considering.
Once police have been contacted and the property is safe, call (613) 707-4884 if a door can't be locked.
Step 1: Make Sure It's Safe
If there is any chance someone is still inside, don't go in. The Ottawa Police Service advises calling 911 if you think someone is still in your house or business. Wait somewhere safe until police arrive.
Step 2: Report the Break-In
If the intruder is gone, report it to the Ottawa Police Service. The police break-and-enter page directs residents to the Police Reporting Unit at 613-236-1222, extension 7300. A police report number is also useful for insurance.
Before anything is repaired, photograph the damage: the door, frame, strike plate, lock and any window that was used. Keep the photos and every receipt for your insurer.
Step 3: Work Out How They Got In
How the intruder got in decides what needs fixing:
- Forced door. Look for a split frame, a bent or torn-out strike plate, or a bolt that no longer lines up. A new lock on a broken frame won't hold, so the frame and strike need repair or reinforcement as well.
- Damaged lock or cylinder. A cylinder that was wrenched, drilled or pried has to be replaced, not just rekeyed.
- No visible damage. If a door was opened with no sign of force, consider whether a key is missing, a spare was hidden outside, or a door or window was left unlocked.
- Window or patio door. Sliding doors and ground-floor windows often need their own locks or blocking bars.
Step 4: Rekey or Replace?
- Rekey when the hardware is undamaged but keys may be compromised. For example, keys, a purse or a garage remote were taken, or you can't account for every copy. Rekeying makes all the old keys useless. If keys were stolen, rekey every exterior lock they fit, not just the door that was used.
- Replace any lock that was damaged. Also replace locks that were weak to begin with, such as a door secured only by a key-in-knob lock.
Step 5: Strengthen the Door, Not Just the Lock
A forced door often fails at the frame or strike plate rather than at the lock itself. The upgrades that tend to matter most:
- A solid deadbolt on every exterior door. See deadbolt vs knob lock for why.
- A reinforced strike plate fastened with long screws that reach the wall framing, not just the thin door jamb.
- Frame and hinge reinforcement on doors that have already been kicked. Our guide to door frame reinforcement goes into detail.
- High-security or restricted-key cylinders for businesses, or where stolen keys are a concern.
Step 6: Secure It Tonight
If the door can't be locked, it needs to be made secure the same day, even if the permanent repair comes later. Our lock replacement after a break-in service covers emergency lock changes and same-visit repairs for homes and businesses. Call (613) 707-4884.