Burglary Repairs in Portsmouth (Emergency Boarding Up & Property Securing)

A break-in is more than a stolen item or a damaged lock—it’s the feeling that your home, shop, or building in Portsmouth isn’t safe anymore. If you’ve come back to a forced door, a smashed window, or a jemmied shopfront, the priority is simple: make the property safe and secure again, quickly and properly.

Boarding Up Portsmouth provides burglary repairs support across the PO postcode area (PO1–PO41) with emergency boarding up, temporary security solutions, and clear documentation for insurers. We’re fully insured, and our technicians are DBS-checked. We don’t promise fixed arrival times (conditions vary), but we prioritise urgent calls and will give you a realistic ETA when you ring.

Need help now? Call 023 8272 0371
Prefer email? [email protected]

When burglary repairs are needed (common break-in damage)

After a burglary, “repairs” often start with securing the opening—because glazing, frames, and doors may be unsafe or left wide open. We’re typically called when:

• A smashed window has left a ground-floor room exposed
• A door has been forced (splintered timber, bent uPVC, broken multipoint lock) and won’t close
• A shop or office has broken commercial glazing and can’t trade safely
• The frame is cracked, pulled away, or too weak to lock again
• There’s a risk of repeat entry, especially if the building will be empty overnight
• Police have attended and you’ve been advised to secure property before leaving the site

If you’re staring at a board up broken window situation and wondering whether it can wait until morning: if the property is accessible from outside, it’s rarely worth the risk. Temporary boarding is designed for exactly this moment.

If the incident is still in progress or there’s immediate danger, call 999. Otherwise, report the crime and get your reference number—insurers almost always ask for it.

What “securing the property” actually involves (and why it matters)

After a break-in, your biggest risks are:

1. Repeat entry (especially if the intruder can see inside or knows a window/door is compromised)
2. Weather exposure—rain and wind through a broken pane can cause rapid internal damage
3. Injury risk from loose glass, sharp edges, unstable frames, or damaged shopfront panels
4. Insurance complications if the building is left unsecured

Our role isn’t to replace your windows or install new doors on the spot—our job is to make safe and secure the building with strong, suitable temporary protection, then leave you with the paperwork you need to move the claim and repairs forward.

For urgent attendance, see our dedicated page: emergency boarding up.

Our approach to burglary repairs in Portsmouth (step-by-step)

Every break-in looks a bit different, but the process is consistent and practical.

1) Quick questions on the phone (so we arrive prepared)

When you call, we’ll ask a few basics to avoid delays:

• Property type (house/flat/shop/office/void)
• What’s damaged (window, door, shopfront, multiple points)
• Rough size/number of openings
• Whether access is safe (glass on the floor, aggressive person nearby, police on scene)
• Any special constraints (shared entrance, upper floor access, rear alley access)

This helps us bring the right boards, fixings, and (where appropriate) options like a temporary steel door.

2) Arrival and safety check

On arrival we’ll assess:

• Is the frame stable enough for non-destructive boarding?
• Are there loose shards or overhead risks?
• Is there hidden damage to surrounding panels or adjacent glazing?

If the frame is too damaged for standard fixing methods, we’ll explain your options before proceeding.

3) Board-up and securing method (matched to the opening)

We use different approaches depending on what’s been attacked.

For broken windows: we typically install 18mm exterior-grade plywood for strength and durability, or 12mm OSB for smaller or lower-risk openings where appropriate. Fixing methods depend on the reveal/frame type and whether we can use internal battens.

For forced doors: if a door can’t be safely shut and locked, we can board up the door area or discuss a more secure medium-term option like a temporary steel door (often a better choice for repeated risk or voids).

For shopfronts and large commercial glazing: we use larger panels and secure fixing patterns that prioritise strength and resistance to tampering. This is especially important out of hours when premises are closed.

Anti-tamper fixings matter because they help prevent removal from the outside—particularly relevant if the property will be unattended.

4) Photos and documentation for your insurer

Where safe and appropriate, we can provide:

• Time-stamped photos of damage and completed work
• An itemised invoice
• A clear work statement describing what was done and why

We’re not loss adjusters, but we do provide the documentation insurers typically need. For more guidance, see: insurance claims support.

5) Practical next steps

Before we leave, we’ll talk you through what to do next (repairs, glazing replacement, lock changes via your chosen locksmith, and how to reduce risk until permanent repairs are completed).

How we secure different burglary damage (windows, doors, shopfronts)

Boarding up a smashed window (homes, flats, stairwells)

A smashed window is one of the most common call-outs. Even a “small” pane can be enough for someone to reach through, unlock a window, or pull at a frame.

We’ll typically:

• Measure and cut boards to fit the opening properly
• Use fixings appropriate to the frame and surrounding structure
• Position boards to reduce leverage points and rattling
• Leave the site safe and secure, with access considerations discussed (e.g., ventilation, pets, occupants)

If you specifically need window boarding in Portsmouth, that page explains materials and methods in more depth.

Securing a door after forced entry

When a door has been kicked, crowbarred, or jemmied, it may not align or lock—even if it “looks” shut.

We’ll assess:

• Whether the frame is holding firm
• Whether temporary boarding is the safest immediate option
• Whether a temporary steel door is more suitable (particularly for vacant properties or repeated targeting)

If you need a specialist response for entrances, see door boarding in Portsmouth.

Shopfront boarded up after a burglary

Commercial premises have additional concerns: visibility, stock security, and the need to reopen safely. If your glazing has been attacked, a shopfront boarded up solution is often the fastest way to secure the site until replacement glass is arranged.

This may involve:

• Larger boards and stronger fixing patterns
• Consideration for shutters, alarms, and access routes
• Coordinating around staff access and safe closing

Read more about shopfront boarding.

Burglary repairs for vacant properties and landlords (PO postcodes)

Empty buildings are at higher risk of repeat entry. If you’re a landlord, managing agent, or responsible for a void property, the immediate goal is to secure the opening—but the longer-term goal is to reduce the chance of it happening again before re-letting.

Depending on the situation, we may recommend:

• Stronger boarding specification
• Anti-tamper fixings as standard
• A temporary steel door for forced entrances
• Security screening for longer vacant periods (where appropriate)

If the property will be unoccupied, you may also find this helpful: vacant property boarding.

What to do right now after a burglary (Portsmouth and PO area)

If you’re reading this in the middle of an already stressful night, these steps help you stay safe and protect your claim.

1. If the intruder may still be nearby, call 999. Don’t enter if you feel unsafe.
2. Call the police (or 101) and get a crime reference number. Keep it to hand for your insurer.
3. If safe, take quick photos of damage and entry points before anything is moved.
4. Avoid touching areas the intruder may have handled (forensics).
5. Call us to secure property with emergency boarding up or a safer temporary closure.
6. Contact your insurer early and ask what evidence they need (photos, invoice, work statement).
7. Make a short list of what’s missing/damaged while it’s fresh—this helps later.

If you need out of hours help tonight, start here: 24/7 boarding up in Portsmouth.

Why people across Portsmouth choose us after a break-in

When your home or premises has been entered, you don’t want sales talk—you want a clear plan and competent work.

• 10+ years trading in property securing work
• Fully insured
• DBS-checked technicians
• Practical methods and suitable materials (plywood/OSB, anti-tamper fixings, temporary doors where needed)
• Clear deliverables for insurers: photos, invoices, and written work details

If you’d like to see what customers say, visit our reviews.

Burglary repairs FAQs (Portsmouth & PO postcodes)

How quickly can you attend for emergency boarding up in Portsmouth?

We prioritise urgent calls and aim to attend as quickly as possible, but we don’t guarantee fixed arrival times—traffic, weather, and current workload matter. When you call, we’ll give you a realistic ETA based on where our team is and what’s already in progress.

Do you only cover Portsmouth city centre?

No—our coverage includes Portsmouth and the wider PO area (PO1–PO41). That includes surrounding neighbourhoods and nearby towns across the postcode region.

Can you board up a door as well as a window after a break-in?

Yes. If a forced door won’t shut or lock safely, we can board up the door area and discuss the best option for short- or medium-term security. See door boarding in Portsmouth.

What boards do you use—plywood or OSB?

We typically use 18mm exterior-grade plywood for strength and durability, with 12mm OSB sometimes used for smaller openings where appropriate. The choice depends on opening size, risk level, and fixing method.

Will boarding up stop someone breaking in again?

It significantly reduces the opportunity by removing easy access and visibility, especially when combined with anti-tamper fixings. No temporary measure is a perfect guarantee, but a properly installed board-up is far more secure than a broken window or compromised door.

Is burglary boarding up covered by insurance?

Often it can be, depending on your policy and circumstances. We’re not insurers or loss adjusters, but we can provide the documentation insurers typically request. More guidance is on our insurance claims support page.

Can you secure a shopfront out of hours?

Yes—out of hours call-outs are common for commercial break-ins. If your premises needs to be made safe and secured, see shopfront boarding or call us directly.

What if the window/door frame is too damaged to fix boards to?

If the surrounding frame or structure is unstable, we’ll explain the options before proceeding. In some cases we can still secure the opening using alternative fixing methods; in others, a temporary steel door or additional structural input may be needed before a secure fit is possible.

Need burglary repairs in Portsmouth? We can secure your property today.

If you’ve had a break-in and need to board up a broken window, secure a forced door, or get a shopfront boarded up, we’re here to help across Portsmouth and the PO area.

Need help now? Call 023 8272 0371 for immediate assistance.
Or send details/photos to [email protected] and we’ll get back to you.