What Should You Do Immediately After a Break-In at Home?
The moment you realise your home has been broken into, your instincts can pull you in several directions at once. You want to check if anything is missing. You want to fix the damage. You want to call someone. And underneath all of that is a low-level shock that makes it genuinely hard to think clearly.
That reaction is completely normal. But the order in which you do things in the first hour after a break-in matters more than most people expect. Get it wrong and you can compromise a police investigation, weaken an insurance claim, or put yourself at risk. Get it right and you can have your property secured, your claim lodged, and your locks sorted before the end of the day.
Here is what to do, in the right order.
Don't Enter If You're Not Sure It's Safe
This one is hard to follow when it's your own home. But if you arrive and find signs of a break-in — a kicked door, broken glass, an open window — you cannot assume the intruder has gone. Call the police before you go inside, and wait outside or in your car until they arrive and clear the property.
If you were inside when the break-in occurred and you hear someone in another part of the house, leave immediately. Don't confront. Don't investigate. Get out and call from outside.
The risk feels abstract until it isn't. Police advise this consistently, and it costs nothing to follow.
Call the Police
Once you're confident it's safe, or while you're waiting outside, call the police and report the break-in. In Australia, you can call 000 if the incident is in progress or if you believe there is still immediate danger. If the break-in has already happened and the intruder is gone, call your local police station's non-emergency number.
Ask for a police report number when they attend. You will need this for your insurance claim. If the officers don't provide it automatically, ask before they leave. Without a report number, many insurers won't process the claim at all.
Note the names or badge numbers of the officers who attend. This saves time if you need to follow up.
Document Everything Before You Touch Anything
Once police have cleared the scene, your instinct will be to clean up and start fixing things. Hold off. Before you move a single item, photograph everything.
This creates real risks in several common situations:
Entry and exit points.
Photograph every door, window, or access point that was forced, broken, or opened. Get close-up shots of damage to the lock, frame, glass, or hardware. These images establish how the intruder entered and support both the police investigation and your insurance claim.
Damage throughout the property.
Walk through every room and photograph damage, mess, or signs of disturbance. Don't tidy first. Insurers need to see the state of the property as it was left, not after you've straightened up.
Missing or damaged items.
Make a written list of everything that appears to be missing or damaged. Include serial numbers where you know them. Check areas that are easy to overlook — drawers, cupboards, the garage, the shed.

Most people photograph too little and document too little in the immediate aftermath. The insurance process goes much more smoothly when there is a thorough record.
Contact Your Insurer
Call your home and contents insurer as soon as you've documented the scene. Most policies have a notification requirement — you need to report the incident within a specific timeframe, sometimes within 24 hours of discovery.
When you call, have the police report number ready. They will ask for it. They'll also ask about the nature and extent of the damage, what has been taken, and how entry was gained. Give accurate information based on what you've seen and documented.
Your insurer will advise you on what temporary repairs you can make before the claim is assessed. In most cases, securing the property against further entry is considered reasonable and won't affect the claim — but confirm this with them before you spend money on repairs.
CTA: Call for same-day break-in security — Forced doors and damaged locks need immediate attention. Malvern Lock Service attends break-in repairs across Malvern, Toorak, Hawthorn, South Yarra, Armadale, and surrounding suburbs. Call 0477-615-507.
Check Whether Any Keys Were Taken
It's easy to focus on what was stolen in terms of valuables and overlook the security implication of a spare key that was in the house. Check your key hooks, drawers, and bags. If you had spare keys to the property inside and they're now missing, any locks they fit need to be rekeyed — not just the entry point that was forced.
The same applies if a handbag or wallet was taken that contained keys with any identifying information. If there's a keyring with house keys and a gym fob that has your address, or keys kept in a car with registration documents in the glove box, those locks need to be changed or rekeyed regardless of whether the break-in appeared targeted.
Consider a Security Assessment While the Locksmith Is There
A break-in, as unwelcome as it is, does reveal something useful: which entry point on your property was considered the weakest. An intruder picked that door, that window, or that access point for a reason — it was faster or easier than the others.
Ask the locksmith to assess the other entry points while they're there. Most will do this as a matter of course. They'll identify whether other locks are a similar grade or lower, whether door frames are adequately reinforced, and whether any other points on the property present the same vulnerability that was exploited.
Security upgrades after a break-in are covered by some insurance policies, or at least factored into the settlement conversation. Ask your insurer what they'll cover before assuming you're paying for it yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to call the police even if I'm not planning to make an insurance claim?
Yes. A police report establishes an official record of the incident. You may decide later that you want to make a claim, or the incident may be linked to others in your area. Reporting also contributes to neighbourhood crime data that affects local policing. It takes less time than most people expect.
Can I clean up before the insurance assessor visits?
Don't clean or repair anything until you've spoken to your insurer and they've confirmed what they need to see. Taking thorough photos first gives you a record to refer to, but the insurer may want to send their own assessor before repairs start. Confirm the process with them on the first call.
Should I change all my locks after a break-in or just the ones that were forced?
Both the forced lock and any locks whose keys may have been taken need to be addressed. A locksmith will also check whether the integrity of any other locks was affected during the incident. In most cases, rekeying all entry points is the safest approach when there's any possibility keys were taken.
How long does it take a locksmith to repair a forced door?
It depends on the extent of the damage. Replacing a damaged lock cylinder and strike plate typically takes under an hour per door. If the door frame itself has been split, the repair is more involved and may require a builder as well as a locksmith. A locksmith can assess the frame on arrival and advise on what's needed.
Is a break-in security repair covered by insurance?
Temporary security measures taken to prevent further entry are generally considered reasonable by most insurers and won't affect your claim — but you should confirm this before spending. Longer-term security upgrades may or may not be covered depending on your policy. Ask your insurer to confirm what is and isn't included before authorising work beyond the immediate repair.
What if my landlord is slow to arrange repairs?
In Victoria, landlords have an obligation to maintain rental properties in a secure state. If a lock or entry point has been compromised by a break-in and your landlord isn't responding promptly, you may have the right to arrange the repair yourself and seek reimbursement. Contact Consumer Affairs Victoria for advice specific to your tenancy situation.
The First Hour Sets the Tone
Most of what determines how smoothly the aftermath of a break-in goes — the police investigation, the insurance claim, the cost of the repair — comes down to what you do in the first hour. Staying calm, following the sequence above, and getting a locksmith out the same day puts you in the best position to deal with the rest of it.
At Malvern Lock Service, we attend break-in security repairs across Malvern, Toorak, Hawthorn, Armadale, South Yarra, Camberwell, and Melbourne's inner south suburbs. We'll secure every entry point, rekey any locks whose keys may have been compromised, and give you an honest assessment of what needs attention now versus what can wait. Call 0477-615-507.