Forced lock report

When someone forces your door, on top of the shock you are left with paperwork: the police report, the insurance claim, perhaps a claim to the residents’ association or the landlord. In all of these it helps to have in writing what happened to the lock, explained by someone who knows about locks.

We are locksmiths from Torrevieja with 15 years of experience and we are available 24 hours a day, every day. We write the forced lock report and, on the same visit, leave the door secure.

What the report is

It is a locksmith’s document describing the condition of the lock and the door after it was forced:

• Details of the property, the date of the visit and who requested it.
• Type of door, lock and cylinder.
• Signs of forcing we have found: jemmy marks on the frame, a snapped or pulled-out cylinder, scratches in the keyway, a lifted escutcheon, damaged hinges.
• The most likely method of forcing, based on those signs.
• Photographs of each piece of damage.
• Work carried out to leave the door secure and parts replaced.

It is not a court expert’s report or a valuation of what was stolen. It is the technical report of the person who inspected and repaired the lock.

What it is for

• For the police report. You can give it to the police as documentation of how they got in or tried to get in.
• For the insurance claim. Many insurers ask whether the lock was forced and how. The report helps you explain it in detail. What your policy does or does not cover depends on your insurance: check with your insurer or your broker.
• For the residents’ association or the landlord. If you rent, or the forcing was on a communal door, it serves as a record of the damage.
• For you. Knowing how they got in tells you which point of your door is weak and what is worth reinforcing.

Police first, then us

If you have just discovered a burglary or an attempted break-in, the order matters. Call the police or 112 and do not touch the door, the lock or anything inside until they have been. Fingerprints and marks are important to them. If someone is inside or you are unsure, do not go in.

Once the police have finished, we can inspect the lock and write the report. If you want to know step by step what to do, there is a guide in burglary at home and in attempted break-in.

How we do it

We inspect the whole door, not just the cylinder. Forcing often leaves marks in places you do not see at first glance: the strike plate, the lock bolts, the inside of the escutcheon. We take apart whatever is needed, photograph every sign and note down what we see.

If the cylinder is broken or has to be changed, we keep the old parts for you. They may be useful if the police or the insurance loss adjuster want to see them. We recommend keeping them until the claim is closed.

What you should do

• Take your own photos of the door as soon as the police allow you to.
• Keep the copy of the police report and note the date and time you discovered the forcing.
• Do not throw away the broken cylinder or lock even if they are no longer any use.
• Tell your insurer as soon as possible and ask what documentation they need.

Signs that a lock has been tampered with

There is not always obvious damage. Be suspicious if you notice any of these:

• The key goes in or turns differently, stiffer or looser than before.
• There are new scratches around the keyway.
• The escutcheon or the trim has moved or has marks on it.
• There are traces of glue, silicone or something pushed into the lock.
• The frame has a notch at the height of the latch.

If you see something like this, even if the door opens, it is worth having us inspect it.

After the report

We leave the door secure with a new cylinder or a replaced lock, with a fixed quote before we start. And if you want to stop it happening again, in home security upgrade we explain how we check the whole property: anti-bump cylinder, escutcheon, hinges, deadbolt and roller shutter reinforcement on the ground floor.

On the coast

In Torrevieja and the Vega Baja many homes stand empty for weeks and owners find out about the forcing late, sometimes from outside Spain. If that is your case, we can arrange it with the person who holds the keys or with your property manager, and send you the report and the photos. Message us on WhatsApp in your own language.

Payment by card, Bizum or cash.