TL;DR: Keep the door locked, move away from glass and avoid confrontation. Call 000 for an attempted entry in progress or immediate danger. Use the non-emergency police channel for a past incident when nobody is in danger. Check outside and arrange equipment only after the scene is safe.
This guide is prevention education for Australian households. It is not emergency, legal or insurance advice. If a person is trying to enter now, call Triple Zero (000).
What should you do first, tonight and tomorrow?
Use this order after an attempted entry: safety and emergency help, then evidence and repairs once safe. This checklist does not require you to stay in an insecure home. Follow the operator’s instructions when danger is ongoing.
| When | Do this | Do not do this |
|---|---|---|
| Right now | Stay inside, move away from glass, turn on lights and call 000 if the person may still be there. | Do not open the door, step outside or walk down the side path to check. |
| Tonight | Once safe, secure reachable indoor entry points and move visible keys. Leave outside gate checks until the scene is safe. | Do not go outside while danger may remain. |
| Tomorrow morning | Photograph door frames, locks, screens, gates and nearby windows before cleaning or repairing anything. | Do not wipe away marks or move damaged parts before you document them. |
| Before the next night | Arrange necessary repairs and a safe overnight plan; assess optional devices later. | Do not rely only on hoping the person will not come back. |
What should you do in the first 60 seconds?
Keep your phone with you and tell the emergency operator your location and what you can hear or see from safety. You do not need to identify the person or verify their intent by opening the door. Avoid the entry and glass; do not move through danger to retrieve property or operate equipment.
Your first job is not to identify the person. It is to keep distance between you and the entry point. Move away from the door, window or glass panel. Keep the door locked. Do not step onto the porch, into the garage, or down the side path.
- Stay inside. Do not open the door to "check".
- Move away from glass. A sidelight, front window or laundry glass panel can break.
- Turn on lights from inside. Use hallway, porch or sensor lights if you can do this safely.
- Make yourself hard to reach. Move to a room with a locked internal door if you feel exposed.
- Call for help. Use 000 if the person is still there or you feel in immediate danger.
Should you call 000 or a police assistance line?
Victoria Police says to call Triple Zero (000) when the incident is happening now, the suspect is still on scene, someone is injured, or anyone is in immediate danger. If the person has left and there is no urgent danger, use the non-emergency reporting path for your state or territory.
Call 000 for ongoing attempted entry or a suspected intruder still on scene. For discovered damage or footage of a past incident, use non-emergency reporting when there is no immediate danger. A person merely visiting or standing on a public path does not by itself establish an emergency.
| Situation | Better response | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| A suspected intruder is still attempting entry or on the scene | Call 000 | It is happening now and may escalate. |
| You heard one attempt, then silence, but feel unsafe | Stay inside and call for advice | Do not go outside to prove they left. |
| You find tool marks the next morning | Photograph and report non-urgently | Evidence may help connect repeated attempts. |
| A camera caught a person testing doors | Save footage and report | Time, clothing and direction of travel can help. |
Non-emergency reporting by state or territory
For a past incident without immediate danger, use your police service's supported reporting route or call 131 444. The AIC reporting directory links to the services below. Online forms have eligibility limits and are not an emergency response channel.
- ACT police forms
- NSW Police community portal
- Northern Territory online reporting
- Queensland Policelink
- South Australia reporting
- Tasmania Police contact options
- Victoria Police online reporting
- Western Australia reporting
If the home cannot be secured, discuss urgent repairs and a safe place to stay with the relevant services and a trusted person. Do not assume a lock repair will be reimbursed or that a police report guarantees attendance.
How can you check the house without opening the door?
Use only an existing camera or safe internal view. Keep away from glass and do not move through danger to reach equipment. A neighbour may look from their own safe place, but must not confront anyone. Existing lights or sound may draw attention locally; neither calls police nor guarantees the person leaves.
What should you do before going back to sleep?
Once safe, secure reachable indoor entry points and move visible keys. If the home cannot be secured or you feel unsafe staying, discuss urgent repairs and a safe place to stay with police, relevant services or a trusted person. Do not go outside to inspect a gate or install a sensor while danger may remain.
Use existing equipment only if safely reachable. Repairs, safe accommodation and support come before a new purchase. Online equipment cannot protect tonight before it arrives and is installed safely. Plan any outdoor assessment for after the scene is safe.
What should you check the morning after?
Inspect only once safe. Photograph damage and preserve original footage before cleaning, following police advice. Note times and missing items. A mark alone does not establish how damage occurred. Arrange suitable repairs without blocking escape, and keep invoices and the police reference.
Renters should notify the agent or rental provider promptly. Follow the applicable Victoria repairs process or NSW urgent-repair guidance, or the equivalent in your state. Responsibility and reimbursement are conditional; do not assume every cost will be covered.
How can you reduce risk after an attempt?
Repair damaged hardware, manage keys and review access routes with the household. Choose lighting, identification, recording or notification according to what you need, and keep the escape plan usable. A camera does not fix a broken lock; local sound cannot summon someone. No checklist guarantees there will not be another attempt.
Start with the front entry check, including the frame, strike, screen and visitor view. Check other relevant routes, such as internal garage doors and windows, with suitable professional help. The repeat-burglary guide explains why broad statistics cannot predict one household’s future.
Where does K9-Alert fit in this plan?
K9-Alert is an optional local sound device for a later plan. No purchase replaces emergency assistance, safe accommodation or repairs. A demonstration of operation does not establish reduced burglary. Check the evidence and limitations before deciding whether sound is useful here.
Only after the scene is safe, choose a sheltered private sensor position with a clear view. Ordinary PIR cannot detect through glass or metal. Keep the receiver protected, test the wireless link with doors closed, and check pets and public foot traffic. It makes local sound without recording or sending a remote notification.
Consider a local sound layer after the immediate incident.
K9-Alert can add local sound in a suitable tested position. It needs power, a clear sensor view and a reliable receiver link. Check setup requirements and actual delivery timing before ordering. It is not an emergency response service or a promise of protection tonight.
View K9-Alert kitWhat should you read next?
If the incident became an actual break-in, use the 7-step break-in response guide. If you are worried the person may come back, read the repeat burglary safety guide. If this happened at night and you did not see anyone, use the noise outside at night guide.
For setup decisions, compare the no-Wi-Fi home security layers, the front entry prevention guide and the barking dog alarm placement guide. Choose a plan that addresses the actual entry fault and can be maintained safely. No setup can promise to stop a future attempt.
FAQ
Should I open the door if someone just tried the handle?
No. Keep your distance, keep the door locked and move away from glass. Call 000 if an attempted entry is happening now, the suspected intruder remains on scene or anyone is in immediate danger. Follow the operator’s instructions. Do not open the door or go outside to identify the person.
Should I call 000 if someone tried to open my door?
Use 000 for an attempted entry in progress, a suspected intruder still on scene, injury or immediate danger. If the incident is over and there is no urgent danger, use the local police non-emergency reporting route. Do not go outside to establish that someone has left before seeking help.
What should I check the morning after an attempted break-in?
Only inspect once it is safe. Preserve original footage and photograph damage before cleaning or repairs, following police advice. Record times, missing items and affected entry points, then arrange appropriate repairs. Renters should notify the agent or rental provider and follow the applicable urgent-repair process without assuming reimbursement.
How do I stop someone trying the door again?
No device or checklist guarantees that. Once safe, repair damaged hardware, manage keys, check access routes and decide which lighting, camera or alarm functions meet your needs. Keep escape practical and arrange support if you feel unsafe. A new online purchase cannot provide immediate protection before it arrives and is safely installed.
Where should I place a barking deterrent after a door attempt?
Do not go outside to install it while danger may remain. Later, use a suitable sheltered private sensor position with a clear view, protected receiver and tested closed-door wireless link. Ordinary PIR cannot watch through glass or metal. K9-Alert makes local sound; it does not notify others or call for help.
Sources
- Australian Bureau of Statistics, Crime Victimisation, 2024-25 financial year
- Victoria Police, Prevent home burglaries
- Australian Institute of Criminology, Reports of burglary by DUMA detainees in Western Australia
Product introduction
This introduction explains the product and intended setup. It does not measure sound level, sensing range, battery life or performance at your property. Check the current instructions and test the actual placement before use.