Discovering a smashed storefront is stressful. Acting in the right order protects your people, your inventory and your insurance claim. Keep this checklist handy.
1. Make sure everyone is safe
Do not enter if you suspect someone is still inside. Keep staff and customers away from broken glass, which can fall from frames long after the initial break.
2. Call the police and get a report number
Your insurer will usually require a police report for vandalism or burglary claims. Note the report number and the officer’s name.
3. Document everything
- Take wide photos of the storefront and close-ups of the damage before anything is moved.
- Photograph any etched label in the corner of the glass.
- List damaged or missing inventory and equipment.
4. Secure the opening
Call a commercial glass company that offers 24/7 emergency board-up. The crew removes loose glass safely, cleans up the shards and installs plywood or temporary glazing so the building is secure overnight. In the DC, Maryland and Northern Virginia area, CBE Glass answers at (202) 492-0676 day and night.
5. Contact your insurance company
Share the police report number, the photos and the board-up invoice. Ask whether your policy covers glass separately and whether you need multiple quotes.
6. Schedule the permanent replacement
The glass company measures the opening and orders the correct glass: usually tempered for doors and many storefront lites, sometimes laminated or insulated. Custom units may take several days; the board-up keeps you secure in the meantime.
7. Prevent the next break-in
- Consider security window film that holds glass together.
- Upgrade to laminated glass on the most exposed openings.
- Check that your door locks and hardware work properly.
- For high-risk businesses, ask about bullet-resistant glazing and secure enclosures.
Need help with your commercial glass?
CBE Glass serves businesses, property managers and general contractors across Washington DC, Maryland and Northern Virginia. Call (202) 492-0676 (24/7 for emergencies), email bid@cbeglass.com or request a free estimate.
