Have You Been Broken Into? What to Do About Your Locks After a Break-In
Having your home broken into can expose security problems that weren’t obvious beforehand. A damaged door or broken lock may be easy to identify, but there is another issue that can be just as important: does someone now have access to your keys?
After a burglary or attempted break-in, Lockwise Locksmiths can assess the locks on your home, repair damaged doors and locking hardware, rekey existing locks, replace compromised locks and upgrade security where required.
We are based at our locksmith workshop in Hillcrest and provide residential locksmith services throughout Brisbane Southside and Logan, including urgent work following break-ins.
Should You Change Your Locks After a Break-In?
It depends on how the property was entered and what was taken.
If house keys were stolen, you should treat the existing key system as compromised. Queensland Police specifically advises that if house or car keys are stolen, owners should have locks replaced or keyless security reprogrammed immediately, warning that offenders may return after the initial break-in. Queensland Police Service
However, changing every lock isn’t necessarily required.
In many cases, a locksmith can rekey the existing locks instead. Rekeying changes the internal combination of a compatible lock so the old keys no longer operate it.
This can allow you to retain good-quality existing hardware while establishing a new key combination.
If the lock itself has been damaged, is unsuitable for the door or no longer provides appropriate security, repairing or replacing it may be the better option.
What Should I Do Immediately After My Home Has Been Broken Into?
Your personal safety comes first.
If you believe someone may still be inside the property or nearby, Queensland Police advises moving to a safe location and calling Triple Zero (000). For non-urgent incidents, Queensland Police directs people to Policelink on 131 444 or online reporting. Queensland Police Service
Once police requirements have been dealt with and it is appropriate to secure the property, a locksmith can address the physical security.
That can include damaged locks, doors that no longer secure properly, stolen keys and other vulnerable entry points.
Be careful about immediately repairing or disturbing areas that police may need to examine as part of their investigation.
My House Keys Were Stolen – Do I Need New Locks?
Not necessarily. You need new key security, but that doesn’t always mean completely new locks.
This distinction is important.
If someone has stolen a key to a properly functioning lock, replacing the entire lock may achieve very little more than correctly rekeying it.
When we rekey a house lock, we alter the lock so that a different key operates it. The stolen or missing key should then no longer operate that rekeyed lock.
Where multiple compatible locks are fitted around the property, we may also be able to key them alike, allowing one new key to operate several doors.
The best solution depends on the locks already installed and their condition.
What If the Burglar Didn’t Steal Any Keys?
A break-in is still a good reason to assess how the property was entered.
If a door was forced, for example, simply replacing the damaged lock with exactly the same arrangement may overlook the weakness that allowed entry.
We look at more than the cylinder.
Depending on the entry point, we may examine the lock, strike, door, door frame, fixings and surrounding material to determine what has failed.
Sometimes the lock needs replacing. Sometimes the lock is perfectly serviceable but the door or frame needs attention. In other situations, an additional deadlock or different locking arrangement may provide a more appropriate level of security.
The objective should be to identify and address the weak point, not simply fit new hardware because a burglary occurred.
Should You Upgrade Your Locks After a Burglary?
A burglary can be an appropriate time to review the security of the entire home.
Queensland Police recommends a layered approach to home security: making it difficult for an offender to gain entry, difficult to leave with property and reducing the opportunities that make a home attractive to offenders. Queensland Police Service
For the physical security of the property, that can mean looking beyond the particular door or window used during the break-in.
We may recommend considering:
- Deadlocks and door locks – Are external doors fitted with suitable locks, and are the doors and frames capable of supporting them?
- Window locks – Are accessible windows properly secured?
- Garage access – Is the internal door between the garage and house properly secured?
- Rekeying – Are there missing, stolen or unaccounted-for keys?
- Keying alike – Can compatible locks be consolidated onto a more convenient key system?
- Damaged hardware – Have locks, strikes, frames or doors been weakened during the break-in?
Queensland Police specifically recommends quality locks on external doors, including internal garage access doors, as well as secure window locks. Queensland Police Service
What If My Car Keys Were Stolen During the Break-In?
Don’t overlook them.
Queensland Police specifically warns that offenders target car keys left in sight. If house or car keys are stolen, its advice is to have the relevant locks replaced or keyless security reprogrammed immediately because an offender may return. Queensland Police Service
This is an area where Lockwise has a useful advantage because we provide both residential and automotive locksmith services.
If your house and car keys were stolen together, we can assess the security of both.
For the home, that may involve rekeying or replacing locks.
For the vehicle, depending on its make and security system, it may involve removing stolen electronic keys from the authorised key system, programming replacement keys and rekeying mechanical vehicle locks where appropriate.
Simply having another spare car key doesn’t necessarily secure a vehicle if the thief still has a working original.
How Common Are Home Break-Ins?
The latest ABS Recorded Crime figures show that Queensland recorded 40,088 victims of burglary during 2025, with 64% — 25,495 — occurring at residential dwellings. Australian Bureau of Statistics
National household survey data tells a similar story. During 2024–25, an estimated 196,600 Australian households experienced a break-in, while another 217,500 experienced an attempted break-in. Australian Bureau of Statistics
It’s worth putting those figures into context: burglary hasn’t simply been rising continuously. The Queensland recorded burglary figure for 2025 was actually 12% lower than 2024, and the national household break-in rate has fallen over the longer term. Australian Bureau of Statistics
The purpose of reviewing your locks isn’t to create unnecessary fear. It’s to address identifiable weaknesses and restore control over access to the property after a security incident.
Rekeying vs Replacing Locks After a Break-In
These terms are often confused.
Rekeying changes which key operates an existing compatible lock. This is particularly useful when keys have been stolen or their whereabouts cannot be accounted for.
Lock replacement means removing the existing lock or locking component and installing another one. This may be appropriate when the existing hardware has been damaged, is worn out or isn’t suitable for the security required.
Lock repair may be possible when part of an otherwise suitable lock or door assembly has been damaged.
Security upgrading involves improving the existing arrangement, such as installing an appropriate deadlock or improving another vulnerable entry point.
A good locksmith should determine which of these is actually required rather than automatically telling you to replace every lock.
Can All the Locks Be Changed to One Key?
In many homes, yes, provided the locks are compatible.
If we’re already rekeying locks because keys have been stolen, it can be a good opportunity to look at the overall key system.
Compatible locks may be able to be keyed alike, allowing the same key to operate the front door, back door and other suitable locks.
That can reduce the number of different keys required without sacrificing the benefit of changing away from the compromised old key.
We’ll normally look at what you already have before recommending replacement hardware.
What About Window Locks After a Break-In?
Windows should form part of the security assessment, particularly when a window was used or targeted during the break-in.
Queensland Police recommends secure window locks that meet relevant Australian Standards and advises against leaving keys in window locks. Queensland Police Service
Different styles of windows require different locking solutions, so there isn’t one universal window lock that should simply be installed throughout every property.
We assess the window type, existing hardware and how it needs to operate before recommending an appropriate solution.
Can Lockwise Attend Urgently After a Break-In?
Yes. Break-in repairs and urgent rekeying after theft are part of our residential locksmith work.
Depending on what has happened, our priority may initially be getting the property physically secure again. Further security improvements can then be discussed once the immediate problem has been addressed.
Lockwise Locksmiths is based in Hillcrest, servicing Browns Plains, Logan and surrounding Brisbane Southside suburbs.
When you call, tell us:
How entry was gained, what locks or doors have been damaged, whether any house or car keys were stolen, and whether the property can currently be secured.
That helps us understand what is most urgent and what equipment or replacement hardware may be required.
Broken Into? Secure the Property, Not Just the Damaged Lock
After a burglary, it’s understandable to focus on the obvious damage.
But good locksmith work after a break-in involves looking beyond a broken lock.
If keys have been stolen, the existing key security may be compromised. If a door was forced, the door and frame may need attention. If entry was gained through a poorly secured window, replacing an unrelated door lock doesn’t address the problem.
Lockwise Locksmiths can rekey locks after stolen keys, repair break-in damage, replace damaged locks, install deadlocks and window locks, and assess other vulnerable entry points.
The goal is to restore security to the property and address the weaknesses identified during the break-in — while retaining good existing hardware wherever it makes sense to do so.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I change my locks immediately after a break-in?
If keys were stolen, securing the affected locks should be treated as a priority. Queensland Police recommends replacing locks or reprogramming keyless security immediately when house or car keys have been stolen. Queensland Police Service Depending on your existing locks, rekeying may achieve the required change without replacing the complete lock.
Can a locksmith rekey a lock after a burglary?
Yes. Many residential locks can be rekeyed so the previous key no longer operates them, provided the existing lock is suitable and hasn’t been damaged beyond repair.
Is rekeying cheaper than replacing all the locks?
It can be because suitable existing hardware is retained rather than completely replaced. The appropriate option depends on the type and condition of the locks.
What happens if the burglar stole my house and car keys?
Both should be treated as compromised. Lockwise provides residential rekeying as well as automotive key programming and vehicle lock rekeying services, depending on the vehicle.
Can you repair a door damaged during a break-in?
We can repair or replace many damaged locking components and assess the door and frame around them. More extensive structural or carpentry damage may require another trade.
Should I install better locks after an attempted break-in?
It’s worth assessing the point that was attacked and the rest of the home’s accessible entry points. The appropriate improvement could involve repairing existing hardware, installing a deadlock, upgrading another lock or securing accessible windows.