Madoc Locksmith Services · Brampton
Break-In Damage Lock Repair: before you call
Locksmith · Brampton, Ontario
They did not get in. The attempt left a screwdriver gouge in the door edge, a strike plate bent outward and a deadbolt that now needs a shove to throw. The lock held, but the door is telling you it was tested.
Worth answering before the call
What kind of lock was on the door: knob, lever, deadbolt, mortise or keypad? Would you like stronger hardware fitted while the door is being repaired? Were any keys, garage remotes or alarm codes taken?
Why did the frame break instead of the lock?
Because that is where the weak point was. A standard strike plate is held by two short screws in a soft wood jamb, and the deadbolt only reaches into a shallow pocket behind it. A kick delivers the full weight of a body to those screws, and the wood around them splits along the grain. The bolt itself is rarely the failure. That is why the repair concentrates on the strike side: a boxed strike, a full-depth pocket and long screws into the stud.
Is the lock that was forced still usable?
Sometimes, and the locksmith tests it honestly. A deadbolt that stayed thrown while the frame gave way may be undamaged, though a kick can bend the bolt where it crossed the gap or crack the housing. A cylinder that was twisted, drilled or punched is finished. Reused hardware must operate as smoothly as new with the door open and closed; if it hesitates, it is replaced, because a lock that took a blow tends to fail at the worst moment.