A Dover locksmith explains what to do in the first hours after a break-in or lockout.
Dover, DE October 29, 2026 –(PR.com)– Kent County had 284 reported burglaries in 2025, according to the Delaware Statistical Analysis Center’s “Crime in Delaware 2021-2025” report, released in July. In 138 of them, the burglar forced their way in, which often leaves a broken lock, door, or frame behind. 1st Capital Locksmith, a mobile locksmith based in Dover, is urging homeowners and business owners to plan who they would call to secure a damaged door before they need to.
Burglary in Kent County is down 14.2% since 2021, according to the same report. But each forced entry still leaves a household or business that has to lock its door again that night. Another 119 Kent County burglaries in 2025 were unlawful entries with no force. The FBI defines those as cases where the burglar entered through an unlocked door or window.
After a break-in, 1st Capital Locksmith advises calling the police right away and waiting outside if anyone could still be inside. Leave the lock and door as they are until police have documented the damage, and photograph everything for your insurance claim. Once that is done, get the door secured by repairing or replacing damaged hardware, and if keys were taken, rekey every lock those keys open.
“After a break-in, people want the door fixed right now, and that’s the right instinct, but call the police first and let them see it as it is,” said Jovantai Lewis, owner of 1st Capital Locksmith. “Once they’re done, the job is getting that door to lock again tonight. And if a spare key went missing, rekey every lock that key opens, not just the door they came through.”
Emergencies are not only break-ins. The company also handles house, car, and office lockouts, keys snapped off inside a lock, and safe lockouts. For a broken key, Lewis advises against digging at it with pliers or a pin, which can push it deeper into the lock.
1st Capital Locksmith provides mobile emergency service across Dover, Camden, Smyrna, Felton, Harrington, Magnolia, Frederica, Cheswold, Clayton, Milford, Leipsic, and the rest of Kent County. Service hours are 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday. Residents can call (302) 735-0050 or read more about the company’s emergency locksmith services.
Contact Information:
1st Capital Locksmith
Jovantai Lewis
(302) 735-0050
Contact via Email
https://1stcapitallocksmithde.com/
Jovantai Lewis | Owner | 1stcapitallocksmithde@gmail.com | (302) 735-0050 | Sunday to Thursday 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern; closed Saturday
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