Burglary Repairs in Medway: What To Do Next and How We Secure Your Property

A break-in is upsetting, disruptive and often leaves you with damaged doors, smashed windows or a vulnerable shopfront. If you’re in Medway (ME1, ME2, ME3, ME4, ME5, ME7 or ME8) and dealing with burglary damage right now, we’re here to help. Boarding Up Medway has been securing homes, shops and commercial premises across the area for over 10 years. Our DBS-checked technicians provide emergency boarding up and practical guidance so you can make safe, protect your property and move forward with your insurer.

If you need urgent help to secure your property after a burglary, call 01634 980 080. We prioritise emergency call-outs and will give you a realistic ETA on the phone.

When Burglary Repairs Are Needed

Burglary repairs usually follow one or more of these scenarios:

• Forced entry through a front or back door: split frames, blown locks, doors off hinges, or glazing knocked out of uPVC/wooden doors.
• Smashed windows: single pane or double-glazed units shattered to gain access, including patio doors and small rear windows.
• Damaged shopfronts: cracked or broken toughened glass after a smash-and-grab, sometimes with mullions or frames buckled.
• Secondary damage: alarm boxes pulled off walls, roof lights forced, or rear service doors pried open on industrial units.

In Medway’s mixed property stock—Victorian terraces, post-war semis, apartments, retail parades and light industrial units—entry points vary. Thinner timber frames and older sash windows in ME1/ME2 homes are common targets, while toughened shopfront glazing in ME4/ME7 often fails dramatically when struck, leaving large open apertures. Whatever’s been compromised, the immediate priority is to make safe and secure to prevent further loss, water ingress or unauthorised access.

First Steps After a Break-In

Take a breath—there’s a clear order that helps.

1. Ensure safety. Do not enter if you suspect intruders remain, there’s glass everywhere, or structural damage around the door or window. If unsure, wait outside.
2. Call the police (non-emergency line if the intruder has gone; 999 if still on site). Obtain a crime reference number.
3. Take photos and short videos of damage from a safe position. This supports insurance claims.
4. Call us to arrange emergency boarding up: 01634 980 080. We’ll talk you through immediate precautions and give an ETA.
5. Contact your insurer to open a claim. We’ll provide itemised invoices, time-stamped photos and a work statement—documentation insurers typically ask for. We’re not loss adjusters, but we make the admin easier.

Tip: Keep broken components (locks, handles, glazing beads) if safe—they may be useful for the insurer or future repair/replacement.

How We Secure Your Property After Burglary

Every property is different, but our approach follows proven, insurance-friendly methods that prioritise strength, weather protection and minimal further damage.

Assessment on Arrival

• We survey all affected openings: doors, windows, shopfronts, and any secondary access points an intruder could exploit.
• We check frames, hinges and surrounding structure to decide the strongest temporary solution.
• We discuss options with you before work begins, especially if the frame is too compromised for a standard board-up.

You’ll know what we’re doing and why before we start.

Materials We Use and Why

• 18mm exterior-grade plywood for primary doors, shopfronts and large windows—rigid, load-bearing and secure.
• 12mm OSB for smaller, non-critical openings where appropriate, keeping costs sensible without reducing safety.
• Anti-tamper fixings so boards cannot be removed from the outside—crucial if the property will be unattended.
• Timber or steel bracing to span weak or split frames.
• Weatherproofing tape/flashings around exposed edges to reduce water ingress.
• Temporary steel doors when a forced entry has destroyed the door/lock assembly or when controlled access is needed over days or weeks.

Fixing Methods That Work

• Face-fixing into solid structure with anti-tamper screws and spreader washers to resist prying.
• Internal “through-bolt” methods for uPVC/aluminium frames to avoid further cracking where possible.
• Screw-and-baton systems that clamp to the opening without damaging surviving beading or delicate surrounds.
• Non-destructive bracing for heritage timber frames when feasible.

If the frame is too damaged for non-destructive methods, we’ll explain the implications and proceed with the strongest safe option.

Doors: Immediate Security and Access

• Where the door leaf is ruined, we can fit a temporary steel door set within the opening, providing lockable, controlled access for you and your contractor.
• If the door can be shut but not locked, we can reinforce and install temporary locks/hasps in combination with boarding to deter further entry.
• For glazed doors with smashed panels, we remove loose glass, board the aperture and secure the leaf to the frame.

Learn more about our dedicated options:

• Door boarding in Medway
• Temporary steel doors and access — includes temporary access solutions

Windows and Shopfronts: Safe, Clean and Strong

• We remove loose shards and vacuum up accessible glass fragments around the opening for safety.
• We size and cut boards to fit flush, avoiding gaps that invite tampering or water ingress.
• Retail units often need larger spans and mullion support; we add internal bracing where frames are bowed or twisted post-impact.

Explore these services:

• Window boarding in Medway
• Shopfront boarding for retailers

What You Receive From Us

• Time-stamped photos before and after, showing damage and the completed make safe.
• An itemised invoice and work statement suitable for insurers, detailing materials, methods and attendance times.
• Practical next steps for permanent repair or replacement, including temporary access arrangements if required.

Typical Post-Burglary Call-Out in Medway

A typical call-out might involve a terraced house in ME1 with a rear kitchen window smashed during the evening. The homeowner calls us after the police leave with a crime reference. On arrival, we find a double-glazed unit shattered and sections of beading missing. We remove remaining loose glass, measure and cut 18mm exterior plywood to cover the full sash opening, then secure it with anti-tamper fixings into the surrounding timber. We apply weatherproof tape to the top edge to reduce water ingress and check the rest of the property for secondary vulnerabilities. Before leaving, we provide time-stamped photos, advise on replacing the glazing unit, and email an itemised invoice for the insurer.

Commercial example: For a ME7 high-street shop with a cracked toughened pane, we would typically brace internally, board externally with 18mm ply cut to the mullion lines, and use anti-tamper fixings with spreader washers to protect the remaining frame—keeping the premises secure overnight until re-glazing.

Insurance and Burglary Damage: What To Expect

• Most policies cover emergency boarding up to “make safe” after a burglary. Your insurer can confirm specifics.
• We are fully insured and have 10+ years trading—our documentation is accepted by mainstream insurers.
• We’re not adjusters; we focus on securing your property and providing clear evidence of work done. For more detail on claims and the paperwork we provide, see Insurance claims support.

If you’re comparing costs or wondering about pricing factors (board sizes, out-of-hours attendance, access complexity), our Pricing guide explains what typically affects the total without quoting fixed rates.

Safety and Clean-Up Considerations

• Glass hazards: We remove reachable loose shards and sweep immediate areas. Deep cleaning and full remediation are outside our scope.
• Fire/odour: If a burglary coincides with fire or smoke damage, we secure the property first. Specialist remediation is separate. See Fire damage securing.
• Weather exposure: We add weatherproofing where boarding replaces glazing to reduce short-term water ingress.

When Temporary Steel Doors or Security Screens Make Sense

• Severely damaged entrance doors where a simple board won’t provide reliable locking.
• Vacant properties at risk of repeat entry following a burglary.
• Sites needing controlled contractor access during repairs.

For medium-term protection of void properties after a break-in, we can advise on steel screens and longer-term options. Start with Door boarding and access solutions and discuss requirements during your call.

Our Process: From Call to Secure

1. Call us on 01634 980 080. We’ll ask a few quick questions about the damage, access, and your location in ME1–ME8.
2. We give a realistic ETA, prioritising urgent cases. No fixed guarantees—traffic and workload vary—but we attend as quickly as possible.
3. On site, we assess, agree a plan with you, and secure using suitable boards, fixings and, if needed, a temporary steel door.
4. We photograph and document the work and send you an itemised invoice and work statement for insurance.
5. We run through next steps for permanent repairs and answer any follow-up questions.

If you need immediate attendance outside normal hours, go straight to 24/7 emergency boarding up.

FAQs: Burglary Repairs in Medway

Can you board up my broken window tonight in Medway?

Yes—this is exactly what our emergency boarding up service is for. Call 01634 980 080. We prioritise urgent cases across ME1, ME2, ME3, ME4, ME5, ME7 and ME8 and give a realistic ETA on the phone.

Will your boarding be strong enough if I can’t replace the glass immediately?

We use 18mm exterior-grade plywood for primary openings and anti-tamper fixings. For longer gaps before replacement, we can reinforce further or fit a temporary steel door where appropriate. We’ll explain the best option on site.

I’m in ME7 and my shopfront is smashed—can you make it safe until glazing arrives?

Yes. We regularly secure shopfronts in retail areas. We remove loose glass, brace where needed and board the opening securely so you can trade safely if possible. See shopfront boarding.

Do you provide receipts and photos for insurance claims?

Absolutely. You’ll receive time-stamped photos, an itemised invoice and a short work statement. For more on the process, visit Insurance claims support.

The door frame is split in ME4—will boarding damage it more?

We aim for non-destructive methods first, using clamping or internal fixings. If the frame is too compromised, we’ll explain the options and secure using the strongest safe method. Sometimes a temporary steel door is the best solution.

How long does a typical burglary board-up take in Medway?

It depends on the number and size of openings, frame condition and access. Single windows are often completed quickly; complex shopfronts or multiple points take longer. We’ll advise a time estimate on arrival.

Is boarding up covered by my insurer in Medway?

Many policies include emergency “make safe” after a burglary. Contact your insurer to confirm. We provide the documentation they usually require.

I’m a landlord—can you secure between tenancies after a break-in?

Yes. We work with landlords and agents across Medway for rapid make-safe and medium-term security. See vacant property and ask about steel screens or temporary access.

Related Services for Post-Burglary Securing

• Secure smashed glazing: Window boarding in Medway
• Reinforce or replace access while repairs are arranged: Door boarding in Medway
• Retail and commercial make-safe: Shopfront boarding
• Urgent attendance any time: 24-hour emergency boarding up
• Understand costs and factors: Pricing

Areas We Cover for Burglary Repairs

We attend burglary repairs across Medway: ME1, ME2, ME3, ME4, ME5, ME7 and ME8. This includes homes, shops and commercial premises in Rochester, Strood, Chatham, Gillingham, Rainham and surrounding neighbourhoods. If you’re nearby and unsure whether we cover your postcode, call and we’ll confirm availability and a realistic ETA.

Need Help Now?

If you’ve just experienced a break-in and need to make safe, call 01634 980 080. Prefer to message? Email us with your postcode, brief details and photos if available, and we’ll get back to you promptly.