Taking Action After a Burglary

Absolutely nothing can prepare you for the turmoil you will go through following a home burglary.  You may feel frightened, vulnerable or even violated but the best way to retain your sanity afterwards is deal with the immediate event calmly and then proceed to take preventative measures to try and avoid anything similar happening in the future.  Once you have done all of that then you can begin to move on.

 Here is a simple step by step guide to help you work through the aftermath:

1. The minute you realise you have been burgled call 999 – Do not enter your house in case the perpetrator is still inside.  Even if you are sure they have left, try not to go inside even to use the phone.  Walking through a crime scene could destroy vital evidence.

2. Do not touch anything before the police arrive – keep well away from all doors and windows in case the burglar tried other access points to try to enter your house.  Any evidence left behind may help the police to find and, potentially, prosecute the burglar. 

3. Once you have been cleared to enter your home again make a comprehensive list of anything that has been taken.  Write down a full description, including makes/models and approximate values.  Include any details on unique identifying marks.  Make three copies; one for the police, one for the insurance company and one for yourself.

4. Contact your insurance company – You need to call them within 24 hours. Make sure that you have all necessary information, including the crime number, as they will need it to process your claim.  The insurance company will probably send a Loss Adjuster to assess the extent of any damage and work through the claim.  Make sure you give them the list of lost items complete with all information.

5. Once everything has been documented, as necessary, you must make sure that you secure all access points – board up doors or windows as necessary.  There are companies you can call in to do this if required.   

6. Now you can tidy up and remove any other physical signs of the break-in.  Actually putting everything right is the first step towards feeling that things are getting back under your control. 

7. At this point in time you need to re-evaluate your security:

•   Change the locks if appropriate.
•   Add lockable window locks.
•   Install an alarm system if necessary.
•   Put locks on side gates and make sure that anything that could aid a future burglar is removed and locked away.

Ask the police and the insurance assessor if they have suggestions of any security items you may have missed yourself. They will often be able to provide invaluable insight and advice.

8. Check out local Pawnbrokers and local selling sites for any trace of your property.  It is unlikely that you will find anything but you never know – and at least it will make you feel proactive.  If you do find anything familiar please contact the police. DO NOT APPROACH THE SELLER YOURSELF.

9. Once you have begun to replace your stolen items always take the time to mark your goods with your postcode and house number.  Register anything valuable with immobilise. https://www.immobilise.com/

It may take a while for you to feel completely safe in your home again but all of the above steps will at least make you feel like you are taking steps to prevent future incidents.  If you are struggling to get over what has happened, then make sure that you contact Victim Support.  They have professional staff that are trained to help you cope with traumatic events. https://www.victimsupport.org.uk/