Burglary Repairs & Boarding Up in Sunderland

The worst has happened. Here's what to do next.

A break-in leaves you shaken, and the last thing you want is to spend the night in a property that's wide open. Maybe the door's been kicked off the latch, a window's been smashed to reach the lock, or the barrel's been snapped clean out. Whatever state they've left it in, the immediate priority is the same: get the place secured before you worry about anything else.

We've been dealing with exactly this since 2014, responding to calls from all across Sunderland, from Roker down through the city centre and out to Pennywell and Ryhope. We know the SR postcodes well and we keep the van stocked for precisely these jobs, so we're not turning up empty-handed and improvising.

What we actually do when we arrive

We assess the damage first. If the frame or the door itself is compromised, we'll board the opening securely so the property is weathertight and nobody can walk back in. A temporary lock goes on as soon as there's anything to fix it to, and we'll check the other entry points too. Burglars aren't always subtle, and sometimes a second door or a back window has been tried as well.

We don't supply glass or rebuild broken frames. That's a job for a glazier or door fitter, and we'll say so plainly rather than take your money for work that isn't ours to do. What we will do is make sure you're secure right now, and that the boarding is solid enough to last until the repair is done properly.

Everything we fit gets written up: the parts, the labour, the condition of the door on arrival. That goes to you as documentation for your insurer, covering the emergency security work.

Pricing and what comes next

Pricing is labour plus parts plus VAT, and we'll quote you on the phone before anyone sets off. Boarding and a temporary lock on a standard UPVC door is a straightforward job; pricing rises if the frame's badly damaged or if we're dealing with multiple entry points. We'll always tell you what we're looking at before we start.

Once the glazier or door fitter has done their work, book us back in for the follow-up. That's when we replace the temporary measures with permanent, quality locks. We tend to recommend British Standard five-lever mortice locks on timber doors and TS007-rated cylinders on UPVC, brands like Yale, Ultion and ERA. A properly locked door after a break-in also tends to satisfy insurers that you've met your policy requirements, which is worth keeping in mind.

If you're in Houghton-le-Spring, Washington, Seaham or anywhere else just outside the city, give us a ring anyway. We cover a wide area and we won't leave you without options.

Call us on 0191 349 6413 any time, day or night.