Burglary Repairs in Chelmsford (Secure Your Property After a Break-In)

A burglary is stressful, disruptive, and often leaves you feeling exposed in your own home or business. If you’re dealing with a forced door, a smashed window, or a damaged shopfront, the priority is simple: secure the property and prevent further loss or weather damage.

We provide burglary repairs and emergency boarding up in Chelmsford and across the CM postcode area (CM0–CM77). If you need help now—daytime, night-time, or out of hours—call us and we’ll talk you through the next steps and give you a realistic ETA.

Need urgent help right now? Call 01245 945 217 for immediate assistance.

When burglary repairs are needed (and what “repairs” usually means)

After a break-in, “repairs” often starts with making the property safe. Many people expect a full door/window replacement immediately, but in the first hours after an incident you typically need temporary boarding or a temporary steel door to protect the opening until permanent repairs can be arranged.

Burglary-related damage commonly includes:

• A board up broken window situation (often from a levered or punched pane)
• A smashed window or cracked double-glazed unit
• A forced entry where you need to board up door openings because the lock area or frame is compromised
• A prised patio door or back door where the frame no longer holds the door securely
• A commercial incident where you need the shopfront boarded up to protect stock and keep the premises compliant and safe

If the building will be unattended (even for a few hours), the risk increases—especially if the burglar can see inside. That’s when fast, competent boarding isn’t “overkill”; it’s a sensible next step.

If you need urgent attendance, visit our emergency boarding up page or call 01245 945 217.

First steps after a burglary (practical checklist)

If you’ve just discovered a break-in, here’s what to do in order:

1. Make sure everyone is safe. If you think the offender may still be inside, do not enter—call 999.
2. Call the police and request an incident/crime reference number.
3. Avoid touching disturbed areas (door handles, window frames, tools left behind). This helps preserve fingerprints and evidence.
4. Take photos/video if safe—wide shots and close-ups of damage. This can help both police and your insurer.
5. Call your insurer as early as you can, especially if the property is exposed.
6. Call us to secure the opening if there’s any risk of access, injury (broken glass), or weather ingress.

Need help securing the property tonight? Call 01245 945 217.

How we secure your property after a break-in (what we do on arrival)

Our job after a burglary is to stabilise the situation: secure access points, reduce risk, and give you clear documentation for the next steps.

When you call, we’ll ask a few quick questions so we bring the right materials:

• Is it a window, door, shopfront, or multiple points of entry?
• Is glass still in the frame, or has it fallen out?
• Is the frame split/rotten, or mostly intact?
• Is the property occupied tonight, or will it be left empty?
• Any access restrictions (rear access only, flats, shared entrances, managed sites)?

1) Initial assessment and safety

We start by checking for hazards—loose glass, sharp edges, unstable frames, or exposed fixings. If the opening is high-level or awkward, we’ll explain the safest approach before proceeding.

2) Choosing the right boarding method (plywood, OSB, or a steel solution)

We typically use:

• 18mm exterior-grade plywood for strength and durability, especially on larger openings or where security is a priority.
• 12mm OSB can be suitable for smaller windows or short-term needs (we’ll advise what’s appropriate based on risk and location).
• Temporary steel doors when a door has been forced and the frame/locking area can’t be relied on for standard temporary boarding.

Where possible, we use anti-tamper fixings and methods designed to prevent boards being removed from the outside—particularly important if the building will be unattended.

If you want to understand the options by opening type, see:

• window boarding in Chelmsford
• door boarding up

3) Measuring, cutting, and fixing properly (not “a sheet and a few screws”)

Boarding up should be strong, neat, and safe. We measure openings accurately, cut boards to fit, and fix in a way that balances security with avoiding unnecessary damage.

• For many windows we’ll fix into sound timber or masonry using appropriate fixings.
• On some frames we may use non-destructive methods where feasible—but if the frame is already split or too weak, we’ll explain options before proceeding.
• For commercial glazing and wide spans, we plan fixing points to avoid bowing and weak edges.

4) Weather protection and containment

Burglary damage is often followed by rain ingress, draughts, and further deterioration. We aim to reduce exposure where possible and ensure there are no obvious gaps or loose edges that could lift in wind.

5) Documentation you can actually use

We can provide what insurers and property managers commonly need, such as:

• Time-stamped photos of damage and completed boarding
• An itemised invoice and a clear statement of works completed
• Notes on any access constraints or frame condition observed on arrival

We’re not loss adjusters or legal advisors, but we’ll help you record the work in a format that supports your claim. See our guidance on insurance claims.

Common burglary damage we see around Chelmsford and the CM area

Every incident is different, but these are frequent call-outs across CM postcodes:

Smashed or popped double glazing

A smashed window can leave jagged glass in the frame or an open void if the unit has collapsed. Either way, you may need to make safe urgently—especially in homes with children/pets or in exposed ground-floor rooms.

Forced front or back doors

If the locking strip, jamb, or frame has been pulled away, closing the door doesn’t mean it’s secure. In these cases we may recommend door boarding or a temporary steel door depending on the extent of damage and whether the property will be vacant.

Commercial break-ins and damaged shopfront glazing

Retail and premises with visible stock can be targeted again if left exposed. If you need a shopfront boarded up quickly, we can secure wide openings and talk you through next steps for glaziers and longer-term protection.

(For commercial premises, see shopfront boarding and commercial property boarding up.)

Typical burglary call-out in Chelmsford (what it often looks like)

A typical call-out might involve a homeowner in the CM1–CM2 area discovering a break-in in the evening: a rear window has been forced, leaving broken glazing and a compromised frame. They need to secure property before going to bed, but the glazier can’t attend until the next day.

On arrival, we would:

• Check the window opening and remove immediate hazards (loose shards, unstable sections) as part of the make safe process
• Measure and fit an 18mm exterior-grade plywood panel, fixed with anti-tamper fixings where appropriate
• Confirm the rest of the property is secure (with the customer) and advise on temporary precautions overnight
• Provide photos and a work summary for the insurer

If there are multiple damaged points—such as a door and a window—we prioritise the easiest access point first (usually the door) and then secure secondary openings.

Burglary repairs for homes, landlords, and businesses

Residential burglary repairs

If it’s your home, your main concern is feeling safe and preventing repeat entry. We’ll keep the process straightforward, explain what we’re doing, and help you secure vulnerable openings quickly. For more on domestic scenarios, see residential boarding up.

Landlords and letting agents

For rental properties, speed and documentation matter. If a property is between tenancies or temporarily empty, it may need a stronger medium-term solution. We can advise on options suited to voids and repeat-risk locations—see vacant property boarding.

Commercial and facilities teams

For businesses, a break-in can disrupt trading and create safety and liability issues. We can secure damaged entrances and glazing and provide paperwork that supports incident reporting and insurance.

What affects the best way to secure a property after a burglary?

A good solution depends on a few practical factors:

• Opening size and location (ground floor front window vs high-level side window)
• Frame condition (solid timber vs rotten/split frame)
• Occupancy (occupied tonight vs empty for days)
• Risk level (visible valuables, repeated attempts, secluded access)
• Time of day (out of hours attendance may require a more robust temporary solution)

If you’re unsure, call us and describe what’s happened. We’ll advise whether you need emergency boarding up, a temporary steel door, or another approach.

For immediate help: Call 01245 945 217

Insurance after a burglary: what to keep and what to ask for

Insurers commonly want:

• The crime reference number
• Photos of the damage and any forced entry points
• Evidence of what was done to secure the property
• An invoice/receipt showing the date/time and works completed

Tips that make claims easier:

• If safe, take photos before we arrive (wide and close-up).
• Keep any damaged locks/handles if your insurer requests inspection.
• Ask us for a clear work description and images of the completed boarding.

More detail here: burglary boarding and insurer documentation.

FAQs: burglary repairs & boarding up in Chelmsford

Do you cover the whole Chelmsford area for burglary call-outs?

Yes. We cover Chelmsford and the wider CM postcode area (CM0–CM77). When you call, we’ll confirm your location and give you a realistic ETA based on current workload and conditions.

Who can board up my window tonight in Chelmsford?

If you need to board up broken window openings tonight, we can help. We offer 24/7 boarding up for urgent situations—call 01245 945 217 and we’ll advise the quickest safe option.

Can you board up a damaged door after a burglary?

Yes. If the door or frame is compromised, we can board up door openings or discuss a more secure option such as a temporary steel door where appropriate. See door boarding up.

What if my shopfront is smashed and I need to secure it out of hours?

We regularly attend commercial incidents where a shopfront boarded up solution is needed quickly. We’ll focus on making the premises safe, securing the opening, and providing documentation you can pass to your insurer or facilities team. See shopfront boarding.

Will boarding up stop another break-in?

Boarding up significantly reduces easy access and acts as a strong deterrent, especially when installed with appropriate materials and anti-tamper fixings. No security measure is absolute, but leaving an opening exposed is far riskier.

How long does burglary boarding usually take?

It depends on the size and number of openings, access, and how damaged the frame is. We’ll give you a realistic expectation on the phone, and we’ll work efficiently once on site.

Is boarding up covered by insurance after a burglary?

Often it is, but cover varies by policy. We’re not insurers, but we can provide photos and invoices that insurers typically request. For guidance, visit our insurance claims page.

Can you secure a property that’s going to be left empty after a burglary?

Yes. If the property will be vacant, we can advise on stronger and longer-term measures beyond basic temporary boarding. Start with a call and we’ll recommend the most appropriate option for the risk level.

Ready to secure your property after a burglary?

If you’ve had a break-in and need to make safe, arrange temporary boarding, or get emergency boarding up in Chelmsford, we’re here to help.

Need help now? Call 01245 945 217 for immediate assistance.
Prefer email for non-urgent enquiries? [email protected]