Burglary Repairs in St Albans (AL1–AL10) – Emergency Boarding Up & Making Safe

A burglary is stressful enough without having to worry about a door that won’t close, a smashed window, or a shopfront left exposed overnight. If you need burglary repairs in St Albans and the surrounding AL postcodes (AL1–AL10), we can help you make safe and secure the property quickly—whether it’s a home, flat, office, or retail unit.

Need urgent help right now? Call 01727 326 204 for emergency boarding up in St Albans.
Prefer email? [email protected]

We’re fully insured, have DBS-checked technicians, and have been trading for 10+ years. We’ll be clear about what we can do immediately (security and weather protection) and what usually comes next (glazing, joinery, lock replacement via your chosen trades).

When burglary repairs are needed (and why you shouldn’t wait)

Burglary damage isn’t always obvious until you try to close up:

• A smashed window where the whole pane has gone, or cracks have spread across the glass
• A door that’s been forced with the lock area split, the frame bowed, or hinges pulled
• Patio doors or side doors that no longer align, leaving gaps you can’t secure
• A shopfront with broken glazing, damaged beading, or a compromised frame
• A communal entrance (flats/maisonettes) that can’t be secured, putting multiple residents at risk

In these situations, the priority is not a “perfect repair” on the night—it’s to board up a broken window, board up a door, or otherwise protect the opening so the property is safe from repeat entry, weather, and further damage.

If the property will be unattended (even for a few hours), temporary security is often the difference between a contained incident and a second loss.

If you need emergency help: Call 01727 326 204

What we do after a burglary: make safe, board up, and secure the property

Our role is to secure the building quickly and professionally so you can regain control of the situation. Depending on the damage, we may provide:

• Temporary boarding to windows, doors, and shopfronts
• Anti-tamper fixings where appropriate to reduce the risk of boards being removed from outside
• Options for temporary steel doors when a doorway is too damaged to board reliably (or when medium-term security is needed)
• Clear documentation to support insurance claims (more on this below)

If you’re not sure what you need, don’t worry—tell us what’s happened and what’s damaged. We’ll talk you through the most practical way to secure it.

For urgent call-outs, see our dedicated page: emergency boarding up.

Step-by-step: what to expect when you call us

Every burglary is different, but the process is usually straightforward:

1. Call and explain what’s been damaged
   Tell us if it’s a window, door, shopfront, rooflight/skylight, or multiple openings. If you can, mention whether the property is occupied.

2. We give a realistic ETA
   We don’t promise fixed arrival times—traffic, previous emergencies, and access can change things—but we’ll be honest on the phone and prioritise urgent cases.

3. Arrival and safety check
   We’ll confirm it’s safe to approach and work. If police are attending or preserving evidence, we’ll follow their guidance.

4. Assess the opening and agree the plan
   We’ll recommend the best method: board up broken window, board up door, or fit a temporary steel solution if required. If frames are too damaged for non-destructive methods, we’ll explain the options before proceeding.

5. Secure and make safe
   We fit boards cleanly and firmly to reduce movement, deter removal, and protect against weather.

6. Photos and paperwork
   You can request time-stamped photos, a clear description of the works completed, and an itemised invoice—useful for landlords, managing agents, and insurers.

Need to secure property after burglary in St Albans? Call 01727 326 204

How we secure different types of burglary damage

Smashed or broken windows (homes and flats)

If you’ve had a smashed window, the aim is to secure the opening quickly without causing unnecessary extra damage.

We typically use:

• 18mm exterior-grade plywood for robust security and stability on larger openings
• 12mm OSB for smaller or less exposed areas (where suitable), especially as a short-term measure

Fixing method depends on the frame and access:

• Where possible, we’ll use methods that secure from the inside or use anti-tamper fixings, because preventing outside removal matters if the property will be empty.
• If glass is loose, we’ll advise on immediate safety (keeping people away, protecting pets/children) and then board over to stabilise the situation.

If what you need is specifically window work, see: window boarding in St Albans.

Forced doors and damaged frames

After a break-in, doors may be:

• Split around the lock
• Kicked in with frame damage
• Warped so they won’t shut
• Temporarily “closed” but insecure (a common and risky scenario)

Depending on the condition of the door and frame, we can:

• Board up the door to prevent access
• Fit a temporary steel door where boarding isn’t strong enough or where longer-term access and locking are needed

This is especially common for back doors, side doors, and vulnerable entrances on quiet elevations.

Read more here: door boarding in St Albans.

Shopfronts and commercial glazing

A burglary to a retail unit often requires shopfront boarded up work fast—sometimes out of hours—to protect stock, prevent vandalism, and reduce business disruption.

We’ll focus on:

• Large-format boarding for glazed frontage
• Strong fixing methods appropriate to the structure
• A neat, professional finish suitable for public-facing premises

See: shopfront boarding in St Albans.

Roof access, rooflights and skylights

Some break-ins involve access through rooflights, skylights, or vulnerable upper sections—particularly where a property is already vacant or in light industrial/commercial use.

If needed, we can help with: roof boarding in St Albans.

Burglary repairs vs. locksmiths, glaziers, and builders (what we do and don’t do)

It’s common to need multiple trades after a burglary. Here’s how our work fits in:

• We do: emergency boarding up, temporary security, making safe openings, and (where appropriate) temporary steel security solutions.
• We don’t: replace glazing permanently, carry out joinery rebuilds, or provide locksmith services directly (unless arranged via your chosen contractor).

This division is often helpful: we secure the site first (reducing risk), then you can arrange permanent repairs without pressure.

Documentation for insurance and landlords (what you’ll receive)

If you’re claiming on insurance, your insurer typically wants evidence of:

• The damage (before/after where possible)
• The immediate steps taken to prevent further loss
• A clear breakdown of works and costs

We can provide:

• Time-stamped photos of the secured openings (when requested)
• Itemised invoices and a written work description
• Notes on materials used (e.g., plywood thickness) and fixing method where relevant

We’re not loss adjusters or legal advisers, but we’re used to supporting customers with the practical documentation insurers usually request. For more guidance, see: insurance claims support.

What to do immediately after a burglary in St Albans

If you’re reading this right after an incident, here are practical steps that help:

1. If there’s any danger, call 999
   Don’t go inside if you think someone may still be there.

2. Call 101 for non-emergency police support
   Ask for a crime reference number—insurers usually require it.

3. If safe, take a few photos before anything is moved
   Focus on entry points (door, window, locks, frame damage). Don’t touch anything that could be evidence.

4. Secure the property fast

   • If it’s a board up broken window situation, keep people away from the opening and broken glass.
   • If you need to board up door access, avoid trying to “force” it shut—this can worsen frame damage.

5. Call your insurer as early as you can Explain that you’re arranging emergency boarding to prevent further loss.

6. Call us to make safe Emergency boarding up prevents repeat access and weather damage—especially overnight, during bad weather, or if the property is going to be empty.

Need someone who can board up your window tonight in St Albans? Call 01727 326 204

A typical burglary call-out in the AL area (what it might look like)

A typical call-out might involve a landlord or homeowner in the AL1–AL4 area discovering a forced entry in the evening: a rear door has been damaged at the lock and a nearby window is cracked. The occupier needs to secure the property before they can stay elsewhere for the night.

In that situation, we would usually:

• Discuss the damage over the phone and confirm access arrangements
• Attend and assess whether the door can be safely boarded or whether a temporary steel option is more reliable
• Board the broken or vulnerable opening using exterior-grade sheet material sized to the aperture
• Use appropriate fixings (including anti-tamper fixings where suitable) to reduce the risk of removal from outside
• Provide photos and an invoice description suitable for insurance submission

If there are complications—severe frame rot, structural movement, or unsafe debris—we’ll explain what we can do immediately and what may need a follow-on contractor.

Burglary repairs for homes, landlords, and commercial sites

We regularly help:

• Homeowners and tenants needing immediate temporary boarding
• Landlords and letting agents securing properties between visits
• Facilities managers and managing agents dealing with communal doors and shared entrances
• Shops and offices needing out of hours attendance to protect premises

If the property is vacant (or likely to be), you may want to consider more robust medium-term security beyond timber boards. Our team can advise on the most sensible next step for your risk level.

Related guidance: vacant property boarding in St Albans.

FAQs – Burglary repairs & boarding up in St Albans

How quickly can you attend for burglary boarding in St Albans?

We prioritise urgent calls and aim to attend as quickly as possible, but we don’t guarantee fixed response times. Workload, time of day, and access affect attendance. When you call, we’ll give you a realistic ETA.

Can you board up a broken window the same night?

Yes—if you have a smashed window or exposed opening, we can usually arrange emergency boarding up to make safe and secure the property, including out of hours where needed.

Will boarding up damage my window frame further?

We aim to use fixing methods that are secure without unnecessary extra damage. However, burglary often leaves frames weak or split. If the frame is too damaged for non-destructive methods, we’ll explain the options before proceeding.

Can you board up a door after a break-in?

Yes. If you need to board up door access after forced entry, we can secure it. If boarding isn’t reliable due to extensive frame damage, we may recommend a temporary steel door solution.

Do you handle shopfronts after a burglary?

Yes—if your premises needs a shopfront boarded up, we can secure commercial glazing and frontage to reduce the chance of repeat entry and protect your stock.

Is emergency boarding up covered by insurance in St Albans?

Often it can be, depending on your policy and circumstances. Insurers typically expect you to take reasonable steps to prevent further loss. We can provide invoices and documentation to support your claim—see insurance claims support.

I’m in an AL postcode outside the city centre—do you still cover me?

Yes. We cover St Albans and the wider AL postcode area (AL1–AL10). If you’re unsure, call us and we’ll confirm coverage and availability.

Ready to secure your property after a burglary?

If you need burglary repairs in St Albans, we’re here to help with emergency boarding up, temporary boarding, and professional making safe—so you can move forward with permanent repairs.

Need help now? Call 01727 326 204 for immediate assistance.
Or email: [email protected]