Premises that have been burgled once are at elevated risk of being targeted again, particularly if the first attempt was easy and especially within the following weeks. The upgrade after an incident should be driven by evidence — how they got in, what they knew, and where the next weakest point is.
Typical range: $250–$6000 CAD. Ranges are typical for the GTA and depend on the door, the hardware and the time of day. We confirm the price before dispatching.
How we assess a property
We walk every opening, not just the one that was used. Doors, windows, glazing, rear and side access, roof hatches on commercial buildings, and the frame and structure around each. We look at what the intruder chose and, more usefully, what they would choose next now that the first route is closed.
We then give you a prioritised list with costs, separated into what genuinely changes your risk and what is marginal. Some of what we recommend costs very little, and some of what a security salesperson would recommend we will tell you not to bother with.
The measures that give the most per dollar
- Full-length reinforcing strikes anchored into structural studs — the highest-value upgrade on almost any door, and among the cheapest
- Three-inch screws through hinge plates into the stud, which takes minutes and costs almost nothing
- Laminated security film on glazing adjacent to doors and on accessible ground-floor glass
- Latch guards on outward-opening commercial doors
- Anti-snap cylinders where euro-profile cylinders are fitted
- Secondary locking on sliding patio doors, which on 1970s and 80s stock are frequently liftable out of their track
- Alarmed exit devices on rear commercial doors
- Exterior lighting on approach routes, which changes behaviour more than most hardware
Measures that are oversold
A very high-security lock on a door in a weak frame, beside a single-glazed window, is money spent on the strongest link in a chain that will fail elsewhere. We will say so.
Likewise, a monitored alarm is genuinely useful but it is a detection measure, not a prevention one — it tells you an entry is happening. Pairing it with physical delay is what makes it effective, because an alarm with no delay behind it just means you find out faster.
The pattern we see is people spending heavily on one impressive-sounding component while the actual entry point stays untouched. A structured walk-through avoids that.
Commercial-specific considerations
Rear and service doors are where commercial break-ins concentrate, because they are out of sight. They are also typically the oldest and least maintained doors on the building.
Insurers frequently have specific requirements after a claim, and meeting them can affect both premium and future coverage. It is worth asking your broker what they want before commissioning work, because doing it in the wrong order can mean paying for something that does not satisfy them.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the single most effective door security upgrade?
A full-length reinforcing strike fastened with three-inch screws into the framing stud. It addresses the way doors actually fail under force — the jamb splitting, not the lock breaking — it costs very little, and it fits in under an hour. Almost nothing else offers the same improvement per dollar.
Are burgled properties targeted again?
Repeat victimisation is a well-documented pattern in criminology, and the elevated risk is highest in the weeks immediately following. The reasons are practical: the intruder knows the layout, knows what is there, knows how they got in, and knows that replaced items are likely new. That is why the upgrade after an incident matters more than a general security review would.
Do I need an alarm system as well?
An alarm is worth having, but it detects rather than prevents — it tells you an entry is under way. Its value depends on there being enough physical delay that the response means something. Physical hardening and an alarm work together; an alarm on its own tells you promptly that you have been burgled.
Will security upgrades reduce my insurance premium?
Sometimes, and it is worth asking your broker directly rather than assuming. Some insurers give credit for specific measures such as certified locks or monitored alarms, and many have requirements they will impose after a claim regardless. Ask before commissioning work, so you install what actually counts for your policy.
Post-Burglary Upgrades across the GTA
We provide security upgrades after a burglary throughout the Greater Toronto Area. Pick your city for local detail, or call and we will tell you straight away whether you are in range.
Related services
Break-In Repair
Same-day repair and re-securing after a forced entry — doors, frames, locks and hardware, with documentation for your insurance claim.
Door Frame Repair
Split jambs, corroded steel frames and torn-out strikes repaired and reinforced — because no lock is stronger than the frame holding it.
High-Security Locks
Pick-, drill- and bump-resistant cylinders on patented restricted keyways, for doors where a standard cylinder is not adequate.
Kicked-In Doors
The most common forced entry in the GTA — repaired and reinforced so the same kick does not work twice.