Attempted burglary

An attempted burglary nearly always leaves a clue: the burglar tried a particular spot because it looked the easiest. Knowing which one it was is the best way to protect yourself.

What to do now

• Call the police or 112. That comes first, even if they did not get in.
• Do not touch anything until the police have been: not the door, not the lock, not the shutter. The marks and fingerprints are useful to them.
• If you think someone may be inside or nearby, do not go in and wait somewhere safe.
• Take photos of the damage once the police allow you to.
• Report it and keep a copy of the report.

What not to do

• Do not clean off the marks or try to fix the lock before the police arrive.
• Do not throw away the cylinder or the damaged parts.
• Do not leave the property overnight with a tampered lock if it can be avoided.

How we sort it out

We work 24 hours a day, every day, in Torrevieja and the Vega Baja. Once the police have finished, we come out.

We check the whole door: cylinder, lock, escutcheon, frame and hinges. A lock that still opens is often damaged inside and no longer protects as well. We replace whatever is needed so the door is locked that same night, with a fixed quote before we start.

If you need to document how they tried to force the door for the police report or your insurance, we prepare the forced lock report on the same visit.

Making sure it does not happen again

After an attempt, the burglar will often come back or try the house next door. We suggest improvements based on what we have seen:

• An anti-bump cylinder with protection against the usual opening techniques.
• A security escutcheon to cover the cylinder.
• Anti-lever hinges or an extra bolt if the door gives at the frame.
• Shutter reinforcement on the ground floor: we reinforce shutters so they cannot be lifted or bent.

Everything is explained under security upgrades. If what they tried to force was a shutter, see also forced shutter.

On the coast

In Torrevieja many attempted burglaries are discovered days later, because the property was empty. If it is your second home and a neighbour lets you know, we can coordinate with whoever holds the keys. Message us on WhatsApp in your own language.

Pay by card, Bizum or cash.