What to Do After a Burglary
  It’s one of the worst feelings in the world.  You come home to a broken window, your belongings strewn about, and your TV and other valuables gone.  You’re the victim of a break-in.  A burglary occurs every eight seconds in the United States, and three out of four homes will be burglarized in the next 20 years.  Here’s what to do after a burglary happens to you.

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Immediately After a Burglary

1)     Do not go inside.  There’s a chance the burglars could still be in your home.  Instead, go directly to a neighbor’s house and call 911.  The police should be the first to enter your home and make sure it is safe to go inside. 

2)     If you do go inside at all, do not touch anything.  You could destroy fingerprints or other valuable evidence.  It’s best to just remain outside and go to a neighbor’s house where it’s safe.

3)     When you call the police, be ready to answer many questions.  Some details that would help the police include:

·        Where the burglary occurred

·        The approximate time of the burglary

·        Descriptions of any suspicious cars or people seen in the area

·        Names and contact information of potential witnesses

After a Burglary: When the Police Arrive

4)     When the police arrive, they will:

·        Secure the premises

·        Interview you

·        Recover evidence

·        Give you safety advice

·        Connect you with a victim support helpline

·        Explain what will happen next

5)     Once the police have secured your home, you can go inside and itemize what has been stolen after a burglary. 

6)     Call your insurance company and file a claim.

7)     Start keeping a running list of the items that have been stolen.  It is not necessary to have a complete list right away.  It may take days for you to discover all that’s missing.  Update your insurance company after a few days. 

8)     Immediately report any stolen credit cards or checks after a burglary.

9)     Get the name and badge number of any responding officers, as well as your case number.

10)      Interview your neighbors to find out if they might saw anything unusual at the time of the burglary.

After a Burglary: The Aftermath

11)      After the initial investigation, it will take up to 72 hours for the police to turn your case over to detectives. 

12)      The detectives will:

·        Identify witnesses and obtain statements

·        Try to recover your belongings

·        Try to apprehend the criminals

·        Deliver an alert to your neighborhood

13)      After a burglary, the police may or may not recover your belongings, but the insurance should cover some of the damage.

14)      After a burglary, you will want to reassess your home security.  Consider installing an alarm system, deadbolts, and floodlights. 

Home Security Store offers you a wide range of home security options to better secure your home so you won’t be victimized again.  Though you may feel violated, you can take back control of your home by securing it to your highest standards.

 

Ralph Winn publishes articles, guides and reviews on security related topics. Ralph Winn has over 32 years of education and experience in the security industry. Your home should be your haven where you feel comfortable and secure. Everybody deserves to feel safe in their own home. The world around us can get hectic at times, and it's important to have a place of safety we can retreat to when times are tough. That's why our goal at the home security store is to help you find the best way to provide a protected environment for you and your loved ones. Ralph has created a user-friendly security forum for you to get answers.