Burglaries are never present things. Coming home to find that your property has been ransacked and that things are missing is shocking, traumatising and sometimes downright horrifying. And for most people, they won’t have a clue what to do. If it’s the first time you’ve experienced a burglary, you might not know what steps you’re supposed to take or even how to react. We hope that you’re reading this just to be safe, but if you have just been burgled and are looking for what to do, take a deep breath, and follow these steps.
Call the Police
The very first thing you should do is to call the police and report the break-in. 101 is the number you should call, unless you think the intruder is still inside the house. In that case, call 999 and don’t go into the property. You should never try to confront an intruder, and if you don’t feel safe, we recommend finding somewhere safe, with other people preferably, to wait for the police to arrive.
Don’t Touch Anything
While you’re waiting, it’s important not to touch anything in the property. Especially surfaces and entry points. There might be footprints, fingerprints or DNA evidence the burglar left behind. The police may want to collect all of this as evidence to help them find and convict the burglar. Stay outside the property if you can, and take photos of the entry point and anything else you can see (like damage) from a distance.
Take a Breather
It’s understandable that you would be feeling shaken. Once you’ve made sure all the members of your family are accounted for, take some time to breathe. If you’re on your own, try to get a trusted neighbour, friend or relative come out to you. You’ll need some support while you process and come to terms with it. Generally, if a crime isn’t actively in progress, the police might take slightly longer to arrive. If you can wait in a neighbour’s property while someone else keeps an eye on your property, this will give you (and anyone else you live with) time to recover from the shock and gather your thoughts.
Talk to the Police
When the police arrive, speak to them. Give them details about the time of the burglary, along with any other specific details you know. The police will probably want to look around the property, and they might decide to call in another team to collect evidence, take photos and speak to neighbours about if they witnessed anything or if they have any CCTV/doorbell cam footage. They will also ask you if anything is missing – tell them anything you know of right now, you can provide a full list later.
Importantly, the police will also give you a police crime reference number, which is very important for your insurance. You’ll need this to be able to update the report, and to claim on your insurance policy.
Create a List of Missing Items
Once you’re finished talking to the police, it’s time to take a look around. Make a list of all the things you notice are missing, and from where in the house. Try to do this quickly so that you can provide it to the police. Don’t worry – if there’s something you spot in the future you can update them later. Remember to check any sheds or garages for missing bikes and tools, as these are very common targets for theft.
Call Your Insurer
Next up, call your insurance company. You need to do this within 24 hours of finding out about the burglary. They’ll ask you for your crime reference number (so that they can talk to the police if needed) and any details you know. They will also ask you to provide them with a list of stolen items as well as any damage.
Before you make the call though, we do recommend that you check your insurance documents. Both to check what will be covered by your policy and what the insurer expects from you. For example, they might expect proof of purchase for the items, or other extra information.
Change Your Locks
This is your final phone call, we promise! Find yourself a good locksmith and get your property secured. It doesn’t matter if they forced their way in, they may well have found a spare key or made a copy so that they can come back later. A locksmith will be able to change every single lock in your property, and advise you about any other steps you need to take to secure the property – like replacing broken windows. Your insurance company may have already spoken to you about this element, but you can discuss it with your locksmith to see if they agree, or even if they can help then and there.
Get Some Support
Your house is your home, and burglary can have a huge impact on your feelings of safety in the place you should feel safest. Even if you feel OK in the moment, it can creep up on you, and if you have any children, they might be disturbed by it too. Make sure you have plenty of support around you in the coming days and weeks, while you sort through everything and get back to normal. If you don’t have anyone close to you, there are plenty of confidential support services you can use, including ‘Victim Support’, who you can call 24/7 on 09 09 16 89 111.
If you need someone to help you replace your locks after a break-in, or if you want to have an expert check up on your security just to be safe, we would be happy to help. Just get in touch with the team today to speak to one of the team.