Last updated: February 2026
Your door is hanging open. The frame is splintered. You're standing in your own home feeling violated, and you need someone at your door right now, not in three hours. We get it. A break-in is one of the worst things that can happen to a homeowner in Stuart, and the damage doesn't stop being dangerous just because the burglar left.
Stuart Locksmiths provides break-in repair locksmith service in Stuart, FL with an average response time of 25 minutes or less. Most jobs run between $95 and $350 depending on the damage, and we can typically have your door secured, locks replaced, and frame assessed within 60 to 90 minutes of arrival. Same day. Every day.
This page covers exactly what we do, what it costs, and why getting it handled fast matters more than most people realize.
What Burglary Damage Actually Looks Like
Most forced entries in Martin County follow one of three patterns: a kicked-in door (by far the most common), a jimmied lock or strike plate, or a broken sliding glass door at the rear of the home. Stuart sees its share of all three, especially in neighborhoods near US-1 and the areas east of the Turnpike where homes are older and original hardware is still in place.
When a door gets kicked in, it's rarely the lock that fails first. It's the strike plate and the door frame behind it. We see 1-inch screws holding a strike plate to soft pine framing all the time, and those give way in one solid kick. The deadbolt itself can be perfectly intact while the frame around it is completely destroyed.
Sliding doors are a different problem. Many older Stuart homes have 1970s and 1980s era slider hardware that offers almost no real resistance. A simple lift-and-pop technique defeats them in seconds without making any noise.
Understanding what actually broke is the difference between a real repair and just cosmetic work. Stuart Locksmiths assesses the full picture, not just the lock.
Break-In Statistics Worth Knowing
Burglars don't usually pick locks. They kick doors. Here's what the data shows:
| Stat | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Entry method | 34% of burglars enter through the front door | FBI Uniform Crime Reports |
| Forced entry | 60%+ of home break-ins involve forced entry through doors or windows | FBI UCR |
| Time on site | Average burglar spends 8 to 12 minutes inside | ALOA Security Professionals |
| Repeat targeting | 1 in 4 burglary victims is targeted again within 6 weeks | Bureau of Justice Statistics |
| Grade 1 deadbolt resistance | ANSI Grade 1 deadbolts withstand 10 strikes at 75 lbs vs. Grade 3 at 6 strikes | ANSI/BHMA A156.30 |
That last stat matters a lot. If your home had standard builder-grade hardware when it was hit, there's a very good chance it's still vulnerable to the exact same attack. Replacing like-for-like doesn't fix that. You need a real upgrade, not just a new knob from the hardware store.
Our Break-In Repair Process
- Call us, describe what you see. When you call (772) 362-5731, we ask you three quick questions: what type of door, what broke, and your exact address in Stuart. That helps us load the right hardware before we leave.
- We arrive in 25 minutes or less. Our technicians operate throughout Martin County, covering Stuart, Palm City, Jensen Beach, and surrounding areas. No waiting half a day for a dispatch.
- Full damage assessment on arrival. We check the door, the frame, the strike plate mounting depth, the lock cylinder, the hinges, and the door jamb. All of it. A missed hinge screw or a cracked jamb that looks minor can mean the whole door is still easy to force.
- Secure the opening first. If the door won't close or latch, we address that before anything else. You won't be left exposed while we work.
- Lock replacement and upgraded hardware installation. We carry ANSI Grade 1 deadbolts, heavy-duty strike plates with 3-inch screws, and door reinforcement hardware on every truck. We'll walk you through your options at real prices before we start.
Step 5 is where a lot of homeowners make the mistake of going cheap. A $35 deadbolt from a big box store installed into a repaired-but-still-weak frame is not meaningfully more secure than what you had. Our High-Security Lock Installation service exists exactly for this situation, and we can often complete it in the same visit.
Pricing for Burglary Repair in Stuart, FL
Straight talk on costs. No bait-and-switch, no "starting at" games.
| Service | Typical Price Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency service call + assessment | $75 to $95 | Applied toward any repair |
| Lock replacement (standard deadbolt) | $95 to $175 | Includes labor and hardware |
| Strike plate + frame reinforcement | $65 to $120 | Often needed after kick-ins |
| Full break-in repair (lock + frame + rekey) | $195 to $350 | Most common complete job |
| High-security deadbolt upgrade | $175 to $450 | Medeco, Mul-T-Lock, ASSA Abloy |
Your homeowner's insurance may cover some or all of this. Stuart Locksmiths provides itemized receipts that work with standard insurance claims. Ask us about that when you call.
After we secure the immediate damage, most customers ask about a full security review. We connect that naturally to our Home Security Upgrades service and our Deadbolt Installation & Repair options, both of which can be done same day if you want to handle everything at once.
Why Stuart Locksmiths for Burglary Repair
There are a few things that separate a real emergency locksmith response from a company that just shows up with a bag of locks.
- We've handled over 1,400 break-in and burglary repair jobs across Martin County. This isn't a service we added to a list. It's something we do regularly.
- Licensed, bonded, and insured in Florida. Florida requires licensure under FS Chapter 493. Ask any locksmith you call for their license number. Ours is on file with the state.
- We stock real hardware on every truck. ANSI Grade 1 deadbolts, reinforced strike plates, door armor, and sliding door security bars. We're not running to Home Depot after we assess your door.
- 25-minute average response in Stuart. We track this. Whether you're near the courthouse on Flagler Avenue or out toward the Martin Downs area, we're close.
- We rekey your home the same visit. If the burglar got a key, or you're just not sure what keys are out there, our Lock Rekey Service takes about 15 minutes per lock and is always available as an add-on.
One more thing. We'll tell you honestly when a door frame needs a carpenter, not a locksmith. We're not going to oversell you a lock upgrade on a door that needs structural repair first. That's just how we operate.
If you're a business owner dealing with a commercial break-in, the process is similar but the hardware and urgency are different. See our Commercial Locksmith page for that specific situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How fast can Stuart Locksmiths respond to a break-in at my home?
Our average response time in Stuart is 25 minutes or less. If you're calling from a neighborhood near downtown Stuart, Sewall's Point, or Palm City, we're typically faster. Call (772) 362-5731 and we'll give you an honest ETA before you hang up.
Should I call the police before calling a locksmith after a break-in?
Yes, always call 911 first if you think the burglar might still be on the property. Once police clear the scene, call us. We work alongside police documentation all the time and our arrival won't interfere with their investigation. Martin County Sheriff's deputies are usually done with the initial report in 30 to 45 minutes.
My door frame is cracked after a kick-in. Can a locksmith fix that?
We can reinforce it, yes. We carry door armor and heavy-duty jamb repair kits that address the structural weakness around the strike plate. If the frame is severely split or the door itself is warped, we'll be straight with you that a carpenter needs to handle the wood repair before we install upgraded hardware.
Will my homeowner's insurance pay for lock replacement after a burglary?
Most standard homeowner's policies in Florida cover burglary damage including lock replacement under the dwelling coverage section. You'll need a police report number and an itemized receipt from us. We provide both the receipt and a written summary of what was damaged and repaired. Check your deductible first, since smaller jobs may not be worth claiming.
The burglar didn't break the lock, they broke the door frame. Do I still need a new lock?
Not always, but you do need a proper assessment. If the lock cylinder and bolt mechanism are undamaged, we may be able to keep the lock and focus entirely on the strike plate and frame reinforcement. That said, if the burglar had time to handle the lock at all, replacing it is worth the cost for peace of mind alone.
What's the difference between rekeying and replacing a lock after a break-in?
Rekeying changes the internal pin configuration so existing keys no longer work. It's fast and costs less, usually $15 to $40 per lock on top of the service call. Replacing the lock means new hardware entirely. If the lock was damaged in the break-in, replacement is the right call. If it's intact but you're worried about copied keys, rekeying handles that cleanly.
Can burglars defeat a deadbolt without breaking it?
Yes, and this is the part most people miss. A Grade 1 deadbolt on a door with a weak strike plate mounted with half-inch screws is not secure. The lock holds, the frame gives way. We see this on 2 out of 3 kick-in jobs in Stuart. The fix is a reinforced strike plate with 3-inch screws going into the wall studs, not just the door jamb.
My sliding glass door was the entry point. What do you recommend?
Older sliding doors in Stuart homes are notoriously easy to defeat. We install secondary security bars, anti-lift pins, and upgraded foot locks that make the lift-and-pop technique physically impossible. We also carry replacement locks specifically for common slider brands. This is a fast job, usually under 45 minutes for a standard two-panel slider.
How do I know if my current locks are strong enough to prevent another break-in?
Check the grade stamp on the lock face or packaging. ANSI Grade 1 is residential commercial-grade and the minimum we recommend in Stuart. If there's no grade marking, it's likely Grade 3 builder-grade and worth replacing. We can assess your entire entry during the break-in repair visit at no extra charge.
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