What to do after a break-in, the first-hour checklist
By Glazing London,
Emergency · Checklist
By Glazing London, 24/7 emergency glaziers Published 31 October 2026 5 min read
On this page
- Quick answer
- The first-hour checklist
- Evidence for the police and your insurer
- Making the property secure tonight
- FAQs
Broken window or forced door right now? We secure homes and shops 24/7, with no call-out fee.
A break-in leaves you shaken and with a property that is suddenly open to the street. This checklist is the order we would give a friend, written by London glaziers who are called out to break-ins most weeks.
Quick answer
After a break-in: get somewhere safe and call 999 if the intruder may still be there, otherwise report it on 101 for a crime reference number. Photograph every damaged window, door and lock before you touch anything, call your insurer, then get a glazier to make the property secure the same night.
The first-hour checklist
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Stay safe first
Don't go in if you think someone is still inside. Wait somewhere safe and call 999. Nothing in the house is worth a confrontation.
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Report it to the police
Once it's safe, report the break-in on 101 or online with the Metropolitan Police. Write down the crime reference number; your insurer will ask for it.
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Photograph before you move anything
Wide shots and close-ups of every broken pane, forced lock and damaged frame, inside and out. Photograph tool marks and anything the intruder left behind.
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Make the glass safe, not tidy
Keep children and pets away. Clear only the glass that is a hazard, wearing proper gloves, and leave shards that are still held firmly in the frame for the glazier.
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Call your insurer
Most policies have a 24-hour claims line. Ask whether they want to send their own contractor or are happy for you to use a local glazier and claim the cost back.
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Get the property secured tonight
A broken window or a door that won't lock is an open invitation for a second visit. Have it boarded or reglazed, and the locks secured, before you go to sleep.
The most expensive mistake after a break-in is tidying up before photographing. Evidence first, broom second.
Evidence for the police and your insurer
The claims that go through quickly all have the same evidence pack. Keep these together in one folder on your phone:
- Timestamped photos of the damage before anything was moved or repaired.
- The crime reference number from the police.
- A list of anything taken, with receipts or photos where you have them.
- Receipts for any emergency make-safe work, such as boarding up or lock changes.
- The glazier's written damage report and itemised invoice.
Making the property secure tonight
A glazier's first job after a break-in is making the property secure, and the glass comes second. On arrival we clear the dangerous glass, then either reglaze on the spot from the stock our vans carry, or board up the opening securely if the glass has to be made to measure.
- Broken windows: single glazing can often be replaced on the same visit; sealed double glazed units are boarded tonight and fitted on a return visit.
- Forced doors and locks: we secure the door and replace the lock so it shuts and locks properly tonight. Non-urgent upgrades can follow, see uPVC door repairs.
- Shopfronts: boarded overnight so you can trade in the morning, then reglazed with toughened or laminated glass, see shopfront glazing.
- Paperwork: you get before-and-after photos, a written damage report and an itemised VAT invoice for your insurer.
Prices are published on our emergency glazing page, with no call-out fee, and the London glazier cost guide covers everything else.
Secure tonight, not next week.
24/7 emergency glazing, boarding up and lock securing across Central & North London. Fixed price from a WhatsApp photo before we travel.
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After a break-in, answered
Should I call 999 or 101 after a break-in?
Call 999 if the burglar may still be inside or nearby, or if anyone is hurt or in danger. If they have gone, report it on 101 or online to the Metropolitan Police to get a crime reference number, which your insurer will ask for.
Can I clean up broken glass before the police arrive?
Only what you must to keep people safe. Photograph everything first, inside and out, and leave forced locks, frames and anything the intruder touched alone until the police say otherwise. Sweep only the glass that is a hazard to children, pets or the route through the house.
Who pays for the glazier after a burglary?
Most buildings and contents policies cover making the property safe and replacing broken glass after a break-in. Keep every receipt and ask the glazier for photos and a written damage report. We provide both, plus an itemised invoice your insurer can process.
Can a glazier secure my home tonight if the glass needs ordering?
Yes. We make the opening safe and board it up securely the same night, then return to fit the new glass once it is made. Forced doors and locks are secured too, so you are not left behind a door that will not shut. Call 07915 903485, 24/7.