A break-in is stressful enough without the worry of being left insecure afterwards. When a commercial unit was broken into over a weekend, the owner needed an emergency locksmith Hayle businesses can rely on to make the premises safe straight away – and that is exactly what Owl Locksmiths and Security did.
Illegal Entry and Goods Stolen in Hayle
Recently, one of our customers called early on a bright and sunny Saturday morning – after the local Glendale crew had gone to work – to find that their unit in Hayle had been broken into. The thieves had forced the metal-framed door, damaging the door, the lockcase and the frame in the process, and had managed to remove a number of expensive items.
There were several issues with this job. First, we had to remove all the damaged parts. Luckily the handles had not been damaged, but the cylinder had to be removed by destructive means – it had been bent during the break-in and would no longer rotate sufficiently for normal operation. The lockcase was a commercial type with specific dimensions and, typically for a weekend, we did not have a spare available.
A Temporary Repair to Keep the Property Secure
The original lockcase was fitted so that the door is cut out slightly, letting the lock face sit flush within the door rather than protrude (see Photo 1). When the temporary lock – and later the final new lock – were fitted, this was not possible, so the door edge had to be knocked in slightly to accommodate the new lock face (see Photo 8).
There was a further complication. Every lockcase has specific dimensions, and one of the most important is the backset – the distance from the face plate to the centre of the spindle and cylinder. The original lock had a 60mm backset, but the only temporary lockcase available had a 55mm backset. That may not sound like much, but in the world of locks it is a huge difference.
A temporary fix was carried out, which also meant altering the door and the frame after it had been straightened, and ordering the correct parts on Monday morning.
Completing the Permanent Repair
The parts arrived the following day. With a new handle set and cylinder fitted, the job was complete – the door straightened, the frame altered to secure properly, and a thumbturn cylinder fitted for safe, keyless exit from inside.
Temporary repairs may not always look pretty, but they are what they are: they keep the property as secure as possible for the shortest time required. Owl Locksmiths and Security will NEVER walk away leaving a property insecure.
Broken Into? Call an Emergency Locksmith in Hayle
As an emergency locksmith Hayle home and business owners trust, we can make your property secure again fast if you have been broken into anywhere in Hayle or across Cornwall. For emergency help or advice, you can:
- Call: Owl Locksmiths and Security on one of the landlines or: 07503 985 947
- Text Message: 07503 985 947
- WhatsApp: 07503 985 947
- Email to: owllocksmithsandsecurity@hotmail.co.uk
Find Out More About Break-In Security
These independent, non-commercial resources offer trusted advice on securing your property after a break-in:
- Secured by Design – the official police security initiative, with home and commercial security guidance.
- Master Locksmiths Association – guidance on high-security euro cylinder standards to resist forced entry.
