Locked Out in Spain: What to Do, Step by Step
What to check first, who to call, what ID you'll need and how to avoid paying too much.
How to Secure Your Holiday Home in Spain While You're Away
Many homes in Orihuela Costa stand empty for weeks or months. A few simple habits and the right locks make a real difference to whether a burglar picks yours.
Before you leave
- Lock the front door with the key, not just pulled shut, and check the terrace and patio doors.
- Close and lock the shutters (persianas) on the ground floor and on balconies that can be reached.
- Don't leave keys hidden outside or in the meter box.
- Take valuables and spare keys with you, or keep them out of sight.
Know who has your keys
Holiday homes collect copies: cleaners, rental guests, key holders, neighbours, builders. Keep a list of who has one. If you lose track, or a long-term tenant leaves, change the cylinder: it's quicker and cheaper than collecting the keys back. A cylinder with a key card stops new copies being made without you.
Make the home look lived in
- Ask a neighbour or key holder to visit regularly, pick up the post and open the shutters now and then.
- Put a light on a timer.
- Don't announce on social media that the house is empty.
- If the home is empty for long periods, consider a monitored alarm.
Strengthen the front door
The cylinder is what burglars attack most. An anti-snap, anti-bump cylinder of the right size and a steel security escutcheon protect the door far better than an extra lock with a cheap cylinder.
If someone breaks in while you're away
- Ask whoever finds it not to go in or touch anything, and to call 112.
- The police report (denuncia) is made with the Guardia Civil or the Policía Nacional, depending on the area. Your insurer will ask for it.
- Photograph the damage before anything is repaired.
- Have the door secured the same day so the home isn't left open.
We repair or replace forced locks and cylinders: see lock repair after a break-in.
If you rent it out to guests
Give guests clear instructions for the front door and keep a spare key with your manager or key holder. If a guest gets locked out, we can open the door once you or your manager confirm it. See what to do when you're locked out.
More locksmith guides
How Much Should a Locksmith Cost in Spain, and How to Avoid a Rip-Off
What changes the price, the warning signs of a rip-off and your rights as a customer in Spain.
Changing the Locks After Buying a Home in Spain
Who else may have a copy, which doors to include, what it costs and what to do about community keys.
Anti-Snap Cylinders Explained: Choosing a Secure Euro Cylinder
How cylinders are attacked, what anti-snap and anti-bump mean and how to tell if yours needs changing.
Need a locksmith in Orihuela Costa now?
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