Post-Burglary Boarding Up South East London
Post-burglary boarding up in South East London is about making your home or business safe and secure again as quickly as possible after a break-in. We help you secure your property after a break-in, provide insurer-friendly paperwork, and give you clear next steps so you can start to feel in control again.
Need urgent help after a break-in? Call 020 4538 1506 for immediate assistance. We’re on call 24/7 across SE postcodes.
When You Need Post-Burglary Boarding Up
A burglary or attempted break-in nearly always leaves your property vulnerable. You may need emergency boarding up in South East London if:
- A door has been kicked in and will not lock properly.
- A lock, frame or panel has been forced and the door won’t close securely.
- A ground-floor or accessible window has been smashed or badly cracked.
- Patio or French doors have shattered glass or bent frames.
- The intruder has damaged a side gate, basement entrance or rear access point.
We frequently attend burglary boarding jobs in areas such as Lewisham, Greenwich, Peckham, Catford, Dulwich and across all SE postcodes, including flats, houses, shops and small businesses.
Common burglary damage we deal with
- Broken windows and glass panels – ideal for emergency window boarding and temporary glazing solutions.
- Kicked-in doors and frames – needing secure temporary door boarding or a temporary steel door.
- Forced locks and hinges – where the door may look “closed” but is not secure enough for the night.
- Shopfront damage – smashed glass, twisted aluminium frames or damaged roller shutters.
If you are unsure whether you need your property boarded up, ask yourself one question: “Could someone get in easily again?” If the answer is yes, you almost certainly need fast, professional break-in boarding.
For immediate, out-of-hours help, you can also visit our dedicated page for 24/7 emergency boarding up in South East London.
How We Secure Your Property After a Break-In
Our aim is to make your property safe and secure with minimal further damage. Wherever possible, we use non-destructive securing methods and avoid damaging frames or remaining glass unnecessarily.
1. Initial safety check
On arrival, our DBS-checked technicians will:
- Check for loose or falling glass and other hazards.
- Assess whether any structural elements (frames, lintels, fascias) are compromised.
- Discuss with you which areas must be secured immediately (e.g. street-facing windows, main doors).
If the police are still on site, we’ll work around any scene-of-crime requirements and only start boarding once they are happy for us to proceed.
2. Measuring and planning the board up
We measure each damaged opening so that our boarding is:
- Tight-fitting – no hand or tool access around edges where possible.
- Well supported – using bracing where required on larger panes or doorways.
- Suitable for insurers – meeting typical expectations for temporary security.
We can secure:
- Single windows, bay windows and French doors.
- Shopfronts and glazed entrance doors.
- Rear doors, side doors and communal entrances.
If you have multiple openings to secure, we plan the work so you regain basic security (for sleep or closing the shop) as quickly as possible.
3. Materials we use: plywood & OSB boarding
For burglary boarding across South East London we typically use:
- Structural plywood or OSB (oriented strand board), usually 11–18mm thick depending on size, height and risk.
- Quality fixings chosen for the surface (brick, concrete, timber or metal frame).
Where possible, we fit boards so they:
- Sit flush against frames or surrounding structure.
- Do not trap water against timber frames unnecessarily.
- Are neat enough to satisfy insurers and neighbours, without looking like a long-term bodge.
This is secure plywood boarding / OSB boarding, not flimsy panelling or scrap wood.
You can read more about our wider boarding up services in South East London.
4. Anti-tamper fixings and non-destructive securing
To deter repeat attempts and vandalism, we use anti-tamper fixings wherever appropriate. These are specialist screws or bolts designed so they cannot be easily removed from the outside, making it much harder for someone to undo the boards.
Our non-destructive securing approach means:
- We avoid damage to undamaged frames and locks wherever possible.
- We do not smash out remaining glass unless it’s genuinely unsafe.
- We use existing fixing points where we can, adding new ones only when necessary for safety and strength.
In some severe burglary cases (for example, when a frame is split or partially collapsed), a small amount of additional drilling or bracing may be required. If so, we explain what we’re doing and why before we start.
5. Temporary secure doors and medium-term security
Where a main entrance door has been badly damaged, we can:
- Board over the full opening, or
- Supply and fit a temporary steel door to create a temporary secure door with lockable access.
This is often the best option if:
- The property will be vacant for a period.
- You are waiting for a full door replacement.
- You need repeated access (e.g. landlords, estate agents, or businesses).
For longer-term or vacant property security after a serious break-in, we can also discuss options such as steel security screens or Sitex-style solutions, as covered on our vacant property boarding in South East London page.
6. Tidying up and making safe
We carry out a basic make-safe clean-up:
- Removing loose and dangerous glass from accessible areas.
- Gathering sharp offcuts and debris from the immediate vicinity.
- Leaving access routes (stairs, doorways) clear and safe to use.
We are not a full clean-up or restoration service, but we do ensure the areas we work in are left tidy and safe.
Why Choose Us for Break-In Boarding in South East London?
When you’ve just suffered a break-in, you need a team that is fast, reliable and calm. We bring:
10+ years’ specialist experience
- Over a decade securing homes, shops and commercial premises after burglaries across SE postcodes.
- Experienced with everything from small flat windows to large retail frontages.
Local presence across SE postcodes
We are based in South East London and regularly attend properties in areas such as:
- SE1 (Southwark, Borough, Bankside)
- SE3–SE7 (Blackheath, Kidbrooke, Charlton, Greenwich)
- SE13–SE15 (Lewisham, Hither Green, Brockley, Peckham)
- SE18–SE28 (Woolwich, Plumstead, Thamesmead and surrounding areas)
Wherever you are in the SE region, we offer fast boarding up services and efficient dispatch, day or night.
For a broader overview of locations, see the areas we cover in South East London.
Insured, vetted and professional
- Public liability insured for your peace of mind.
- DBS-checked technicians attending your property.
- Clear identification and respectful, reassuring conduct—especially important when there are children or vulnerable adults present.
Non-destructive wherever possible
Our non-destructive securing approach means we aim to:
- Preserve frames and undamaged glass where it’s safe to do so.
- Avoid unnecessary drilling into tiles, stone or decorative features.
- Make it easier and often cheaper for your follow-on glazing or joinery repairs.
Where a fully non-destructive approach isn’t possible due to structural damage, we always explain options and get your agreement before proceeding.
Insurer-friendly paperwork and photos
We understand the frustration of dealing with insurers after a burglary. To support your claim, we can provide:
- Time-stamped photos of the damage and the completed boarding.
- An itemised invoice clearly listing labour and materials.
- A short work summary (simple statement of what we found and how we secured it).
We recommend that you:
- Keep any crime reference number provided by the police.
- Take your own photos before and after if it’s safe to do so.
You can also read more on our dedicated page about insurance support for boarding up in South East London.
What Happens Next – Simple Process
We try to make the process as stress-free as possible:
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Contact us
- Call us on 020 4538 1506 any time, 24/7.
- Or send details via email if it’s non-urgent.
- We’ll ask for your location, type of damage and any safety issues (glass, children, pets).
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We advise and schedule
- For urgent cases, we treat it as an emergency call-out.
- We give a clear explanation of what we’re likely to do on site.
- If needed, we can coordinate with your locksmith, glazier or landlord.
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On-site secure and make-safe
- We carry out the post-burglary boarding up, using plywood/OSB, anti-tamper fixings and temporary doors if required.
- We keep you informed at each stage so there are no surprises.
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Paperwork and next steps
- We issue your invoice and simple work statement.
- We can talk you through likely next steps with glaziers or door replacement companies.
If you have specific questions about costs, you may find it helpful to read about our boarding up prices in South East London (we explain all the factors, but do not publish fixed prices).
You can also explore our related services, such as dedicated door boarding up in South East London and window boarding in South East London.
FAQs
How quickly can you secure my property after a burglary?
We provide 24/7 emergency boarding up across South East London. We do not promise exact arrival times, but we prioritise burglary and break-in jobs and dispatch a technician as quickly as possible. When you call, we’ll give you an honest, up-to-date estimate based on your location.
Can you board up both doors and windows after a break-in?
Yes. We handle door boarding up, window boarding and shopfronts. Whether a door has been kicked in or a window smashed, we can board the opening securely, and where needed we can install a temporary secure door so you still have safe access.
Will the boarding damage my frames or brickwork?
We aim for non-destructive securing wherever possible. That means using existing fixing points and the least invasive methods we can. In some cases with heavy damage or weak structures, some new fixings are unavoidable for safety, but we’ll always explain what we’re doing and why.
Is burglary boarding covered by insurance?
Many home and business policies do cover emergency boarding up after a break-in, but every policy is different. We are not loss adjusters or legal advisers, so we can’t say for certain what your insurer will approve. What we do provide is insurance-ready paperwork—photos, an itemised invoice and a brief work statement—to support your claim.
What should I do before you arrive?
If it’s safe:
- Keep children and pets away from broken glass.
- Avoid touching disturbed areas if the police haven’t yet attended.
- Take photos of the damage for your records.
If there’s any risk from exposed electrics, water, or structural movement, stay clear and wait for professionals.
Can you help if my shopfront has been smashed in a burglary?
Yes. We regularly deal with shopfront boarding and retail boarding up after burglaries and attempted break-ins. We can coordinate with shutters, grilles and roller doors, and provide simple RAMS where required for commercial and facilities management clients. See our dedicated page on shopfront boarding in South East London for more detail.
Need help now? Call 020 4538 1506 or Email us for fast, professional post-burglary boarding up across South East London.
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