What to do after a break-in in Israel: a step-by-step guide
After a break-in, get out and call the police on 100 without touching anything, photograph the damage once the police have been, report the claim to your insurer with the police case number, and then have the door secured: a new cylinder and repairs to whatever was forced. After that, fix the weak point the burglars used.
What should you do in the first hour?
Your safety first, evidence second. Do not tidy anything until the police have been.
- Do not go in, or get out. If you come home to a forced or half-open door, do not enter: the burglars may still be inside. If you are already in, leave calmly.
- Call the police on 100 from the landing, a neighbor’s home or the street. Give the exact address and floor, and say whether you think someone is still inside.
- Touch nothing. The police may send a forensic team (zihui plili) to lift fingerprints and other traces. Do not clean, tidy or close drawers.
- Keep family members out of the apartment, especially children, and keep pets contained.
- Write things down while they are fresh: when you got home, when you were last there, the state of the door and windows, anything that strikes you. These details fade fast.
How do you report a break-in to the Israel Police?
Call 100 so a patrol comes to see the scene, then file a complaint (tluna): either with the officers on site or at your local police station. Filing online exists only in some areas, and usually only when a police officer asks you to do it that way.
Always ask for confirmation that your complaint was filed, with the case number, often called the “PLA” number (mispar pla). Your insurer will ask for it. Bring your ID and a first list of what was taken. If your Hebrew is not up to this kind of conversation, bring along a Hebrew-speaking friend.
How do you document the damage for insurance?
Once the police have left, photograph and film everything before any repair. The more complete your file, the easier the claim.
| Item | Why it matters | How to gather it |
|---|---|---|
| Photos and video of the door, cylinder, frame and windows | Proves the break-in and how it happened | Wide shots, then close-ups, before any repair |
| Photos of every room | Shows the disorder and damage | A walk-through video is often enough |
| List of stolen items | The basis of your claim | Description, where and when bought, estimated value |
| Receipts, boxes, serial numbers | Proves ownership and value | Order emails, banking apps, older photos |
| Old cylinder and broken parts | Physical evidence for the assessor | Keep them until the claim is closed |
| Invoices for emergency repairs | Possible reimbursement | Ask the locksmith for an itemized invoice |
How do you report the break-in to your insurer?
Contact your insurer or agent as soon as possible with the police case number. They will tell you which documents they need and whether they are sending an assessor (shamai) to look at the damage.
Israeli home insurance is split into building insurance (bituach mivne), which covers the structure and often the door, and contents insurance (bituach tkula), which covers your belongings. Be aware that the building insurance your bank requires for a mortgage usually does not cover contents. Check your policy to see what you actually have.
Do not leave your home unsecured while you wait for the assessor: emergency securing is almost always needed. Photograph before, keep the replaced parts and the invoice.
Deal with the side issues too: cancel stolen bank cards, report a stolen teudat zehut or passport to the Population and Immigration Authority (Rashut HaUchlusin), and change your passwords if a laptop or phone was taken.
Why change the cylinder straight away?
Because after a break-in your cylinder can no longer be trusted, even if it looks fine. The burglars may have taken a spare key from a drawer, photographed a key, or weakened the cylinder trying to snap it.
A lock and cylinder replacement is therefore the first job, ideally the same day. The locksmith should also check the bolts, the latch, the frame and the hinges: a forced door can be bent out of shape and stop closing properly, even with a new cylinder. It is a good moment to choose a stronger model; our guide to choosing a security lock helps you compare.
How did they get in, and how do you reinforce it?
The marks left behind point to the weak spot to fix first.
| Point of entry | What you see | Possible reinforcement |
|---|---|---|
| Snapped or pulled cylinder | A cylinder that stuck out, a missing piece | Anti-snap cylinder of the right length, protective escutcheon |
| Door forced with a crowbar | Marks on the frame, bent door | Repair and adjustment, check of the bolts and frame anchoring |
| Door that was only pulled shut | No visible marks | Always lock with the key when you go out, even briefly |
| Window, balcony or roller shutter (trisim) | Shutter lifted, window or catch forced | Window locks, bars, shutter locks |
| Copied or lost key | No marks, door opened normally | New cylinder with protected keys, review of who has copies |
Ground-floor apartments and top floors, reachable from the roof or balconies, deserve particular attention, as do buildings wrapped in scaffolding during renovation work such as Tama 38.
Which mistakes should you avoid after a break-in?
- Tidying up before the police arrive: the traces disappear and your insurance file gets weaker.
- Throwing away the old cylinder: it is physical evidence the assessor may want to see.
- Refitting the same cylinder, or a bottom-of-the-range one “for now”: temporary fixes have a way of becoming permanent.
- Calling the first number stuck on the door next to yours: choose a locksmith you can identify, ask for the price before the job and an invoice after it.
- Forgetting the other ways in: reinforcing the door achieves little if the balcony window does not lock.
How do you feel safe at home again?
Feeling shaken after a break-in is normal: someone has invaded your private space. Talking about it with people close to you and not staying alone for the first few days helps a lot.
A few practical steps also rebuild confidence: tell the neighbors and the va’ad bayit, who can quickly check any lobby cameras before the footage is overwritten; put a light on a timer when you go away; do not post your travel plans on social media; and always lock the door with the key.
Get your door secured
SecureDoors Israel secures doors after a break-in anywhere in Israel: cylinder replacement, lock repair and advice on reinforcing the door. The advice is free: call or WhatsApp 055-508-8444, Sunday to Friday. See our security locks and cylinders, all our locksmith services, or get in touch through the contact page.
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Frequently asked questions
Should I wait for the police before changing the cylinder?
Ideally, yes: the police should see the door and cylinder exactly as the burglars left them. If you cannot leave the home open, photograph everything in detail before the work and keep the old cylinder and any broken parts. Tell the police and your insurer afterwards.
Will my insurance pay for the new cylinder?
That depends on your policy. Damage caused by a break-in is often covered, under the building or the contents section depending on the contract. Keep the invoice, the photos and the old cylinder, and ask your insurer what they will reimburse before any major work.
I rent: who handles what?
Tell your landlord straight away. Generally, damage to the door and the apartment falls under the landlord’s building insurance, and your stolen belongings under your own contents insurance, if you have it. Agree who orders the repair, and give the landlord a copy of the new key if your lease requires it.
The attempt failed: do I still need to do anything?
Yes. Report the attempt to the police and your insurer even if nothing was taken. A cylinder that survived a snapping or picking attempt can be weakened without it showing, so have it checked and replace it if it has marks.
Should I tell the neighbors?
Yes. They may have seen or heard something, and their door could be next in the same building. The va’ad bayit can also check any lobby cameras and remind everyone to keep the building entrance closed.
Need a locksmith?
Call us or message us on WhatsApp. We answer in English, Hebrew or French.
055-508-8444Sunday to Friday, closed on Shabbat