Burglary Repairs & Emergency Boarding Up in Milton Keynes
A burglary is invasive, stressful, and often leaves your property exposed—broken glazing, a splintered door, or a damaged frame that won’t lock. If you’re dealing with the aftermath in Milton Keynes or anywhere across the MK postcodes (MK1–MK77), we can help you make safe quickly and secure the property with professional temporary boarding.
We’re a local team with 10+ years trading, fully insured, and all technicians are DBS-checked. If you need urgent help—whether it’s a smashed window, a forced door, or you need to board up a broken window tonight—call us and we’ll talk you through the next steps and give you a realistic ETA based on current workload.
Need help now? Call 01908 024 702 for immediate assistance.
Prefer email? info@boarding-up-milton-keynes.co.uk
When burglary repairs and boarding up are needed
“Burglary repairs” often starts with securing the building, not a full replacement door or window on the night. After a break-in, you may need emergency boarding up if:
- A window has been forced, cracked, or completely smashed (even a small hole can be widened fast)
- A door has been kicked in, the lock area is split, or the frame is pulled away from the wall
- Patio doors or rear access points are damaged and won’t close securely
- A shopfront or commercial entrance has been attacked and you need it shopfront boarded up to protect stock and stop repeat attempts
- The property will be unoccupied (you’ve had to leave, or it’s a vacant/void property)
Even if the police have attended and the immediate threat has passed, an unsecured opening can invite a second attempt—especially overnight or out of hours. Boarding up is the quickest way to stabilise the situation until glazing, joinery, or lock repairs can be arranged.
If you’re unsure whether you need boarding or a different security measure, we’ll advise honestly on the phone. In some cases, we’ll recommend a stronger option such as a temporary steel door rather than repeated timber boarding.
What to do straight after a burglary (Milton Keynes & MK areas)
If you’ve just discovered a break-in, focus on safety and evidence first. These steps help protect you and also support your insurance claim.
- Make sure it’s safe to enter
- If you suspect the intruder may still be inside, don’t go in—call 999.
- Call the police and get a crime reference number
- Keep it to hand; insurers usually ask for it.
- Take photos if it’s safe
- Capture broken glass, damage to locks/frames, and any points of entry before anything is moved.
- Avoid touching damaged areas
- Fingerprints and tool marks can matter to investigations.
- Call us to secure the property
- We’ll help you board up a door or board up broken window openings, and make safe sharp edges and vulnerable access points.
- Contact your insurer
- We’re not loss adjusters, but we can provide the documentation insurers typically need.
If you need emergency boarding up now: Call 01908 024 702
How we secure a property after burglary (step by step)
Every break-in is different. Some are “quick smash-and-grab” jobs with a single smashed window; others involve heavy door damage and compromised frames. Our approach is always to prioritise safety, then security, then weather protection.
1) Arrival, assessment, and immediate safety measures
When we arrive, we’ll:
- Check the extent of the damage (window, door, frame, surrounding masonry)
- Identify any risks: loose glass, unstable panels, access hazards, overhead dangers
- Confirm which areas must be secured immediately to stop re-entry
If the opening is unsafe (for example, jagged glass still in the frame), we’ll make safe before we board—so nobody is injured and the boarding can be fixed properly.
2) Choosing the right boarding method (and why)
We typically use:
- 18mm exterior-grade plywood for most ground-floor windows/doors where strength matters
- 12mm OSB in some lower-risk, smaller, or short-term applications (where appropriate and agreed)
We don’t just “screw a sheet over the hole”. The fixings and method matter, especially if the building is likely to be unattended.
Depending on the opening and surrounding structure, we may use:
- Reveals fixing (into the window/door reveal) where suitable for strong anchoring
- Face fixing (to the surrounding frame/wall) when reveals are damaged or inaccessible
- Internal bracing on some openings so fixings can’t be removed from outside
- Anti-tamper fixings where required, to reduce the risk of someone undoing the board externally
If the frame is too damaged for non-destructive methods, we’ll explain your options before proceeding.
3) Door security after forced entry
A kicked-in door often has hidden damage: split timber, torn hinges, or a lock area that won’t hold a new cylinder. In those cases, boarding a door can be a temporary measure—but it isn’t always the best one.
If you need a more secure, medium-term solution (for example, if you’ll be waiting for a new door), we can discuss a temporary steel door as a stronger replacement to prevent repeat entry.
Relevant service: door boarding in Milton Keynes
4) Window security after break-ins
Windows are a common entry point because one broken pane can be pushed out quickly. Boarding prevents:
- Further damage from wind and rain
- Pets/children coming into contact with broken edges
- Opportunistic re-entry through the same opening
Relevant service: window boarding in Milton Keynes
5) Commercial properties and shopfront attacks
For retail and commercial sites, the priorities often include stock security, staff safety, and restoring a safe frontage until glazing contractors attend. We can shopfront boarded up quickly using larger sheets, correct fixing patterns, and a tidy finish that reduces attention from passers-by.
Relevant service: shopfront boarding in Milton Keynes
What you get from us (useful for insurers and landlords)
After we secure your property, we can provide practical documentation to support next steps:
- Photos of the secured openings (time-stamped where possible)
- An itemised invoice and work statement describing what was done and why
- Notes on any complications (e.g., frame too damaged for a particular fixing method)
We’re happy to work with landlords, letting agents, and facilities teams as well—especially where access needs coordinating or the property is vacant.
For broader guidance, see: insurance claims support
Typical burglary call-out in Milton Keynes (what it can look like)
A typical emergency boarding up call in Milton Keynes might involve a ground-floor rear window forced late evening. The police have attended, but the opening is still exposed and the customer is worried about a repeat attempt overnight.
On arrival, we would check for loose shards, remove immediate hazards, then measure the opening and cut an 18mm exterior-grade plywood board to suit. Depending on the frame condition, we’d either fix into sound reveal points or use a method that prevents easy external removal. If there’s door damage as well—like a split lock area—we’d discuss whether temporary boarding is enough or whether a temporary steel door is the safer option until full repairs are arranged.
Before leaving, we’d confirm the property is secure, advise on next steps for glazing/door replacement, and provide photos and an invoice suitable for an insurer or landlord record.
Burglary repairs vs. full repairs: what we do (and what we don’t)
It’s important to be clear: our role is to secure property fast and professionally after a break-in.
We do:
- Emergency boarding up of windows, doors, shopfronts, and other vulnerable openings
- Security upgrades such as temporary steel doors and security screens where appropriate
- Make-safe work to reduce immediate risk from broken or exposed areas
We don’t:
- Replace glazing units or manufacture new doors on the spot
- Provide legal advice or act as loss adjusters
- Carry out full reinstatement works (we can, however, leave things secure while you arrange them)
If you need an immediate response, our emergency page explains how we prioritise urgent calls and what to expect: emergency boarding up
Costs after a burglary: what affects the price?
We don’t publish fixed prices because burglary damage varies hugely. The main cost factors are:
- Size and number of openings (one small pane vs multiple windows/doors)
- Access requirements (upper floors, restricted access, commercial shutters/entrances)
- Materials used (thicker boards, anti-tamper fixings, temporary steel door)
- Time of attendance (especially out of hours)
If you call, we’ll ask a few quick questions and give clear guidance on likely options. For more detail: boarding up pricing
FAQs – Burglary repairs and boarding up in Milton Keynes
Do you cover burglary boarding across all MK postcodes?
Yes. We cover Milton Keynes and the wider MK postcode area (MK1–MK77). If you’re not sure whether you’re in range, call us and we’ll confirm and give a realistic ETA.
Who should I call first after a burglary: you or the police?
If the intruder may still be inside or there’s immediate danger, call the police first (999). Once it’s safe and/or the police have attended, call us to make safe and secure the opening.
Can you board up my window tonight?
If you need 24/7 boarding up after a break-in, call us. We prioritise urgent calls and will give you an honest ETA. We can board up broken window openings and help prevent re-entry.
My door is kicked in—should I board up the door or fit a temporary steel door?
It depends on how damaged the frame and lock area are, and how long you’ll be waiting for permanent repairs. Boarding can be appropriate short-term, but if the property will be empty or the doorway is badly compromised, a temporary steel door is often the more secure choice. We’ll explain options when we assess the damage.
Will boarding up stop another break-in?
Boarding is a strong deterrent and physically blocks access, especially when fitted with appropriate fixings and bracing. No security measure is “guaranteed”, but correct boarding significantly reduces the chance of easy re-entry through the same point.
Is emergency boarding up covered by insurance?
Often it can be, but policies vary. Insurers typically want evidence of forced entry and a crime reference number. We can provide an invoice and photos to support your claim, but we’re not loss adjusters.
What if there are multiple damaged windows or a shopfront to secure?
That’s common after burglary or attempted entry. We can board multiple openings in one visit, including larger panels for commercial premises so your frontage is protected and the site is safe.
Can you help if the property is vacant after the burglary?
Yes. Vacant properties are at higher risk of repeat attempts. We can secure doors and windows and discuss longer-term options like screens or a temporary steel door depending on how long the building will be empty. See: vacant property boarding
Next steps: secure your property after a burglary
If you’ve had a break-in and need emergency boarding up in Milton Keynes or anywhere across MK1–MK77, we’re ready to help you secure the property and get things stable.
Need help now? Call 01908 024 702 for immediate assistance.
Or send details/photos if easier: info@boarding-up-milton-keynes.co.uk
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