Storefront Break-In: What to Do and How to Recover

A smash and grab or forced entry through your storefront can leave you shaken. The broken glass, the exposed opening, the uncertainty – it all hits at once. This guide walks you through a clear, step-by-step checklist: from the first 60 minutes through permanent repair and prevention.

First 60 Minutes: Immediate Actions After a Storefront Break-In

The moments after discovering a break in matter. A calm, methodical response protects your people, your property, and your insurance claim.

Call 911 first, especially if you suspect a break-in is occurring or recently occurred. Do not enter if you suspect the intruder is still inside – wait at a safe distance.
Contact building security (if applicable), then notify your landlord or property manager for assistance coordinating access and next steps.
Do not touch anything until law enforcement has gathered evidence. Fingerprints, tool marks on commercial storefront glass, scattered broken glass, and displaced merchandise are all potential evidence.
Use caution tape to mark off dangerous areas around broken glass. Deploy cones or improvised barriers to keep customers and staff away from damaged door glass, storefront windows, and sharp edges.
While waiting for police, gather basic information: when the break in was discovered, which entry points are damaged, visible missing items, and any CCTV footage timestamps. Preserve security footage before it is overwritten.
Once police clear the scene, contact a commercial glass contractor for emergency board up and temporary security to keep your property safe from additional damage.

Documenting Damage for Police and Insurance

Complete documentation makes your insurance claim and glass repair process significantly smoother. Missing details create delays and weaken your position with adjusters.

Obtain the police report number before any cleanup begins. Record officer names and badge numbers.
Take clear photos and videos of all property damage before cleaning up broken glass – capture a full elevation of the storefront, close-ups of the broken window, damaged frame condition, locks, and any tools or rocks visible at the scene.
Shoot both interior and exterior views. Include sidewalk and parking lot areas where broken storefront glass or merchandise landed.
Do not clean up until police and your insurer allow it. Premature cleanup destroys evidence and can complicate your claim.
Write detailed notes listing every damaged panel, door, window glass section, and any temporary emergency board up installed that night. Note sizes, locations, and materials.
Document a detailed inventory of stolen or damaged items with approximate quantities, display locations, and estimated values for adjusters.
Monitor for breaches if customer or employee data is compromised during a break-in – check POS systems, computers, and file storage that may have been accessed.

Securing the Opening: Emergency Board Up and Safety

Broken door glass and storefront doors with shattered panes create immediate safety, security, and liability risks. Secure the opening as quickly as possible to prevent further theft or injury.

Professional board-ups use durable materials like plywood, cut to measure and anchored into existing frames without damaging aluminum mullions. They keep out intruders and weather until permanent glass is installed.
Cardboard, plastic sheeting, or garbage bags taped over an opening are not acceptable substitutes. These makeshift fixes fail under wind, offer zero security, and may complicate your insurance claim.
Emergency board up can be needed after business hours, on weekends, or overnight. It is a temporary fix that keeps your commercial building secure until new glass arrives.
Technicians will remove loose broken glass, sweep and vacuum shards from floors and sidewalks, and check for unstable existing glass that may still fall and create hazards.
Property managers should cordon off the area, post warning signage, and maintain a safe path of travel until glass repair is completed.
Keep all board-up invoices for your claim file. ONE Glass Service provides emergency glass repair and board up throughout the Denver Metro and Rocky Mountain region.

Identifying Your Commercial Storefront Glass and Choosing Replacement

Not all commercial glass is the same. Glass type directly affects cost, lead time, and how well your storefront resists future break-ins.

Tempered safety glass is common in commercial storefronts. Tempered glass passes through a heat-treatment process that makes it stronger than annealed glass, and when it shatters, it breaks into small granular pieces rather than dangerous shards.
Laminated glass consists of two panes bonded with a plastic interlayer. It holds shards together after breakage, making it far harder for an intruder to create a passable opening.
Insulated commercial glass units combine two or more panes separated by sealed air or inert gas for energy performance. Low-E coatings or tints are common additions.
A glazier assessing your opening will check thickness, whether the pane is single or insulated, look for manufacturer stamps, and note whether the glass is part of a door, sidelight, transom, or full-height window.
Most replacement storefront glass is custom fabricated, so the board stays in place while new glass is made. Even standard sizes may require lead time if coated or tinted.
Safety glazing is required near walking surfaces, doors, and certain entry locations. For deeper guidance on security-focused glazing, see ONE Glass Service’s article on storefront security glass.

From Broken Glass to New Glass: Repair Timeline and Next Steps

The usual sequence after a break in is: assessment, measurements, emergency board up, fabrication, then installation. Here is what to expect along the way.

In many cases there are two visits: one for board up and measuring the opening, and a second for installing the replacement once the glass is ready.
Simple tempered door glass in standard sizes can often be replaced faster than oversized, insulated, or laminated commercial storefront glass with custom coatings, which takes longer to fabricate.
Cost depends on glass type, size, access, and whether the work is scheduled or an emergency. For a full breakdown of variables, see our guide to storefront glass replacement cost.
Set expectations with tenants and staff: the board up may stay in place until fabrication is complete, storefront doors may have limited functionality, and customer access may need to be rerouted.
Ask the glazier about frame repair and whether existing hardware – hinges, locks, closers – can be reused or must be replaced if impact twisted the frame or mullions.

Working with Insurance and Property Stakeholders

Coverage details, deductibles, and limits differ by policy, so confirm specifics with your broker before authorizing upgrades.

Report the incident to your insurance provider as soon as the police report number is available, and ask before authorizing any non-emergency upgrades.
Insurers typically ask for the police report or event number, dated photographs, invoices for emergency board up, proposals for commercial glass replacement, and an inventory of stolen property with estimated values.
Ask your broker whether business interruption coverage applies if your business cannot stay open or must limit hours while the board up is in place.
Keep all communications with adjusters documented. Maintain a dedicated claim folder with copies of photos, notes, emails, proposals, and invoices related to the incident.
Clarify responsibilities with property stakeholders: who pays the deductible, who selects the glazing company, and who approves upgrades beyond like-for-like window replacement.
Do not delay board up or basic safety measures while waiting for claim decisions.

Hardening Your Storefront to Reduce Future Break-Ins

A break in often reveals weak points in your storefront – creating an opportunity to fix vulnerabilities before the next attempt.

Conduct a post-incident security assessment across your entire façade, not just the panel that failed. Check every opening, lock, and frame for condition and integrity.
Upgrade door glass and sidelights from basic tempered to laminated or forced-entry-resistant options. To understand the differences, read ONE Glass Service’s comparison of laminated vs. tempered glass.
Security window films can limit damage from shattered glass on windows that are not being fully replaced. Polycarbonate shields can add impact resistance for high-risk interior displays.
Upgrade locking hardware on storefront doors and glass doors so an intruder cannot gain access quickly.
Add monitored alarms and improved surveillance, establish clear opening and closing protocols, and keep on-site cash to a minimum overnight.
Upgrades can often be planned and installed during off-peak hours to minimize disruption to customer flow. Glass specialists can stage the project so one opening at a time is addressed while the rest of the storefront remains operational.

When to Call ONE Glass Service and How We Help

ONE Glass Service is a commercial-only glazing contractor serving the Denver Metro Area, Colorado, and Wyoming. We specialize in storefronts, commercial glass doors, curtain wall sections near entries, and high-traffic door systems in retail, office, and mixed-use buildings.

After a break in, our team supports clients by providing emergency board up, assessing existing glass types and frame condition, recommending the right replacement glass, and coordinating with property managers and general contractors to keep the project on track. Every piece of broken storefront glass gets replaced with the correct spec – no guesswork on thickness, coatings, or install details.

Services can be scheduled during or outside normal business hours to protect your operations and your customers. Whether you need an emergency board up or a full façade assessment, we are ready to help.

Contact ONE Glass Service through our contact page or call (303) 505-3194 to get started.