Your Shop Window Is Smashed — What to Do Next
30 April 2026 · 5 min read
A smashed shopfront threatens your stock, your security, and your trading day. Here's exactly what to do — and how to be open again fast.
Make the premises safe and secure first
A broken shopfront leaves your stock, equipment, and premises exposed. The immediate priority is to make the building secure — usually by boarding up the opening with a proper, securely fixed board until permanent glass can be fitted. A commercial emergency glazing service can attend, clear the broken glass safely, and board up around the clock.
Keep customers and staff away from the area until the glass is cleared, as large shards can fall without warning.
Document it for insurance and the police
Before anything is cleared, photograph the damage from several angles. If it was a break-in, ramraid, or vandalism, report it to the police and note the crime reference number — your business insurance will almost certainly need it for a claim.
Keep the written quote and invoice from your glazier. Reputable commercial glaziers provide these as standard, which makes the insurance process much smoother.
Getting trading again fast
For most businesses, every hour closed is lost revenue. A good commercial glazier will secure the premises immediately, then replace the glass with the correct specification — often toughened or laminated safety glass for shopfronts — as soon as the unit is available, frequently before you next open.
Where a bespoke or oversized pane is needed, secure boarding keeps you protected in the meantime, so the premises are never left exposed.
Reducing the risk next time
After a break-in, it is worth reviewing the glass itself. Laminated security glass holds together when struck, turning a quick smash-and-grab into a slow, noisy struggle that most intruders abandon. It is a common upgrade for shopfronts in higher-risk locations.
A commercial glazier can advise on the right specification for your premises and, where useful, set up a planned maintenance arrangement so any future issues are handled as a priority.
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