Your Door’s Been Kicked In. Now What?
You pull up to your house on Adams Hill and something’s off. The front door is cracked open, the frame is splintered, and your stomach drops. Or maybe you come home to your apartment near the Americana at Brand and find the deadbolt punched through. Break-ins happen in Glendale more than people expect — and the first few hours after one are critical.
We’re the Locksmith HQ Team, and we’ve responded to dozens of post-break-in calls across Glendale — from Rossmoyne to Citrus Grove to the condos along Central Avenue. Here’s the step-by-step guide we give every customer who calls us in a panic.
Step 1: Don’t Go Inside
Seriously. If you arrive home and the door is damaged or open, do not walk in. The intruder could still be inside. Step back, go to a neighbor’s house or sit in your car, and call Glendale PD at their non-emergency line — or 911 if you hear anything inside. Officers will clear the home before you enter.
We’ve had customers on Glenoaks Boulevard who walked right in and startled someone still rummaging through a back bedroom. That’s a situation nobody wants.
Step 2: File a Police Report Immediately
Once officers arrive, file the report on scene. You’ll need the case number for your insurance claim, and your insurance company will almost certainly require it before covering lock replacement or door repair. The Glendale Police Department on West Broadway is responsive — they’ll document everything and give you a copy.
Step 3: Document the Damage Before Touching Anything
Grab your phone and photograph everything. The busted door frame, the lock that’s been drilled out, the pry marks on the sliding door. Get close-ups and wide shots. This documentation does double duty — it helps the police investigation and strengthens your insurance claim. Take photos of any damaged windows, too, especially if you live in one of those older Craftsman homes in the Verdugo Woodlands where original hardware is common.
Step 4: Call an Emergency Locksmith in Glendale — Not a Handyman
Here’s where people make a costly mistake. They call a general handyman or try to prop the door shut overnight with a chair. A damaged door with a compromised lock is an open invitation for a second break-in. Burglars know that freshly hit homes are vulnerable — your electronics might be gone, but they’ll come back for whatever’s left.
An can be at your door within 20-30 minutes, assess the damage, and install a new deadbolt or high-security lock on the spot. If the frame is too damaged for a standard lock, we’ll install a temporary security solution and help you plan the full repair.
Step 5: Upgrade — Don’t Just Replace
If someone kicked through your lock once, the same lock won’t stop them again. This is your chance to upgrade. We typically recommend Grade 1 deadbolts with reinforced strike plates and 3-inch screws that anchor into the stud, not just the door frame. For apartments along Brand Boulevard or the residential streets off Honolulu Avenue in Montrose, we also suggest adding a secondary lock or a smart lock with activity alerts.
Think about your other entry points too. That side gate on your Sparr Heights bungalow? The garage door on your place near Pacific Park? A break-in is a wake-up call to audit every access point. Our Glendale locksmith services include full-home security assessments — we’ll walk the property with you and point out weak spots.
Step 6: Secure Your Valuables Differently This Time
If the burglar got into a home safe — or you didn’t have one — now’s the time to reconsider how you store important documents, jewelry, and cash. A quality home safe bolted to the floor or wall is a real deterrent. And if your existing safe was compromised during the break-in, our team handles and can help you repair or replace it.
Step 7: Talk to Your Neighbors
Break-ins in Glendale tend to cluster. If someone hit your house on Mountain Street, there’s a fair chance they tried a few other homes on the same block that week. Let your neighbors know. Check if anyone has Ring or Nest doorbell footage. The neighborhood Facebook groups for areas like Crescenta Highlands and Woodbury are surprisingly active — post what happened, share the police report number, and ask if anyone saw anything.
This isn’t just about catching the person. It’s about making your street a harder target going forward.
How Fast Can We Get There?
We operate 24/7 across the entire Glendale area. Whether it’s 2 PM on a Tuesday or 3 AM on a Sunday, our emergency locksmith Glendale team can reach you quickly. We carry commercial-grade locks, reinforced strike plates, and door repair hardware in our vans — so the job gets done in one visit, not two.
If your home has been broken into and you need your locks replaced tonight, call us at (818) 398-9391. We’ll get your door secured and help you sleep a little easier.
