Your Las Vegas home was just broken into. Here's the first thing to do: don't touch anything. Call Metro Police (702-828-3111), wait outside, and let them document the scene. Once they clear you to go back in, your next call should be to a locksmith — because a kicked door or a broken cylinder means your home is still open right now. The rest of this post covers every step after that, in order.
Step one: secure the entry point tonight
Most break-ins in Las Vegas happen through the front or back door — kicked in, not picked. If your door frame is split or your deadbolt cylinder is damaged, your lock is decorative until it's fixed. A residential locksmith can repin or replace the cylinder, reinforce the strike plate, and rekey the locks so any key the burglar may have taken is useless. We've done this in Spring Valley and Henderson the same night a break-in was reported. If you say 'my door was kicked in and I can't lock it,' that's a same-day dispatch.
Here's the part most people don't know: a standard strike plate uses short screws that pull out of soft wood with one kick. A 3-inch screw into the stud behind the frame changes that completely. It's a $4 fix your locksmith does during the visit. Ask for it specifically.
Rekey or replace? what Spring Valley homeowners actually need
This is where a lot of people overspend. A lock rekey is the right call when: the lock itself isn't damaged, the cylinder is intact, and you want every old key to stop working. We repin the cylinder to a new key combination — same hardware, new key. It costs less than a full lock change and is exactly as secure when the locks are in good shape.
A full lock change makes sense when: the cylinder is cracked or bent from the break-in, the deadbolt was a cheap builder-grade unit, or you want to upgrade to a higher-security keyway. The Consumer Reports door lock buying guide recommends ANSI Grade 1 deadbolts for exterior doors — that's the same standard we recommend. Grade 1 bolts resist both kick-ins and picking far better than the Grade 3 hardware most tract homes in Summerlin and Henderson come with.
My honest opinion: most 'I need a new lock' calls after a break-in don't actually need a new lock. A rekey and a strike plate upgrade solves it for less. We'll tell you on-site which one applies to your door.
| Option | Best for | Typical cost | On-site time | Security upgrade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rekey existing deadbolt | Intact cylinder, any old keys compromised | Call for a quote | ~20 min | Neutralizes stolen/copied keys |
| Lock change (Grade 1 deadbolt) | Damaged cylinder or builder-grade hardware | Call for a quote | ~30 min | Higher pick/kick resistance |
| Smart lock install | Keyless entry, audit trail wanted | Call for a quote | ~45 min | Remote access + no physical key |
| Strike plate upgrade | Door frame intact, bolt seats poorly | Included in service call | ~10 min | Dramatically resists kick-ins |
| Master key rekey (multi-unit) | Rental or multi-door home | Call for a quote | ~45–60 min | One key controls all entry points |
What burglars target first in Las Vegas homes
Burglars go for the master bedroom first — that's where most people keep jewelry, cash, and firearms. Then the home office for laptops and documents. Then the kitchen junk drawer, which often holds spare keys to other doors and vehicles. If a burglar was in your home, assume any spare key left out is compromised. Bring them all to your locksmith on the service call and get them confirmed against your new key combination.
Las Vegas homes have specific vulnerabilities. Single-story homes in neighborhoods off Decatur or Rainbow often have sliding glass doors in the back — easy to lift off the track. Garage side doors are almost always the weakest point. Older homes in Sunrise Manor and Whitney Ranch frequently have hollow-core interior doors between the garage and the house. A burglar who gets into your garage is now one door away from the inside. A solid-core door and a Grade 1 deadbolt on that garage entry is one of the best single upgrades you can make.
Camera and alarm systems: what to add in Summerlin and Henderson after a break-in
Locks stop the casual burglar. Cameras and alarms stop the repeat attempt and help law enforcement professionals identify suspects. After a break-in, LVMPD will sometimes increase patrol frequency in your neighborhood — but that doesn't last. Your job is to make your home look harder than the one next door.
For cameras, cover the front door, back door, and garage. A wide-angle camera at the front corners of the roofline gets the whole driveway. Motion-activated lighting paired with cameras is more effective than cameras alone — most burglaries happen when it's dark and quiet. If your neighbor's house is lit up and yours isn't, you're the easier target.
For alarms, door and window contact sensors are the baseline. Glass-break sensors add a layer for sliding doors and windows. A monitored system that calls the homeowner and then dispatches if no response is faster than relying on a neighbor to notice. If you want a 24-hour line for lockouts and security concerns, we answer those calls around the clock — a real person, not voicemail.
Smart locks after a break-in: worth it or overkill?
A smart lock gives you an audit trail — you can see exactly who entered and when. After a break-in where a spare key may have been taken, that's genuinely useful. It also means no physical key exists to copy or steal going forward. We can program a key fob or smart key system for vehicles, and we install residential smart locks on the same service call.
That said — a $300 smart lock on a hollow-core door with a Grade 3 strike plate is still a hollow-core door. Start with the physical security: solid door, Grade 1 deadbolt, reinforced frame. Then layer in the smart features. The Consumer Reports door lock buying guide makes this same point — the mechanism grade matters more than the connectivity features.
When NOT to call a locksmith after a break-in
If your locks are completely fine — nothing was forced, nothing is damaged, and the burglar got in through an open window or unlocked door — you don't need a locksmith right now. Get a window lock (the kind that pins the frame) for a few dollars at any hardware store. Add a door alarm. That's a DIY fix that doesn't require a service call.
Also: if you're dealing with insurance documentation and can't touch anything yet, wait. Some homeowner policies require a police report and adjuster photos before any repairs. Make sure your insurer is fine with the locksmith work before you have it done — though most policies cover it. Call your agent first if you're not sure.
What the Las Vegas break-in pattern looks like — and how to use it
Las Vegas sees break-ins cluster in certain ways. Daytime residential burglaries are common because most people are out. The target is usually a home that looks unoccupied — overgrown yard, dark windows, no visible cameras. Neighborhoods near the 215 and off major corridors in Spring Valley, Enterprise, and Centennial Hills see recurring activity. LVMPD's Action News reports on specific spikes by neighborhood — worth checking after an incident to know if yours is an isolated event or part of a pattern.
Neighborhood Watch programs still work. A block where neighbors know each other's cars and routines is a harder target than one where nobody talks. If your HOA or neighborhood doesn't have a Watch program, Metro can help set one up. That's a free resource that pairs well with the physical security upgrades.
Your checklist: the first 24 hours after a Las Vegas break-in
- Call LVMPD (702-828-3111) and wait outside — don't disturb the scene.
- Once cleared, document damage with your own photos for insurance.
- Call your homeowner's insurance to open a claim before repairs.
- Call a locksmith to assess the entry point, rekey compromised locks, and reinforce the strike plate.
- Collect all spare keys from drawers, cars, and neighbor's houses — bring them to the service call.
- Check sliding glass doors and garage side doors — these are often the next weak point.
- Add motion-activated lighting at the back of the property within the week.
- Consider a camera at the front and back entry points.
- Ask your neighbors if they saw anything — and ask if they'd join a neighborhood watch.
- Request an LVMPD crime prevention survey if available in your area.
If you need a locksmith in Las Vegas tonight — kicked door, broken cylinder, or you want every old key to stop working — call (702) 356-0352. We dispatch our own techs, quote you on the phone before we roll, and can have someone to most parts of the valley in around 20 minutes. For car key replacement needs or pricing questions on residential work, those pages have more detail.