What to after your house was burgled?

Discovering that your house has been burgled can be extremely distressing for you and the family. But you would need to keep your calm and immediately think about what you can do now to recover from the unfortunate incident and minimize your losses in whatever ways possible. We have listed down steps you can take after your house was burgled.

1. Call the police

Call the police and report the crime. Don’t try to enter the house if you suspect the burglar is still inside. In that case, call the police from outside. The police will provide a unique reference number. Note it down and keep it safe for future references. In addition, when you would call your home insurance provider to make a claim, you will be required to give them this unique number.

2. Don’t touch anything

When you find it is absolutely safe to enter, do not touch anything before the police arrives. You don’t want to destroy any evidence the burglar may have left behind.

3. Make a list of missing (or damaged) items

Thoroughly check the property to determine missing or damaged things after your house was burgled. Make a detailed list for both the police and insurance company.

• Can you find your spare keys? Make a note to call a residential locksmith to get your locks changed or rekeyed immediately.
• Does it look like the burglar has stolen away any electronic item such as tablet, phone, USB or laptop? Change any passwords you believe might have been saved on these devices. Also, call your phone provider to block your account.
• You think your credit or debit cards are missing? Call up your bank and notify them so that can block the cards, preventing someone to use the stolen credit/debit cards.
• Call the relevant authorities if you find your passport, driving license or any financial and legal document missing.

4. Contact your home insurance company

If you are covered, you can make a claim for stolen or damaged stuff. Depending on your policy, you may also claim for any damage on the property. Contact your insurance company within 24 hours and provide the unique reference number for the crime. Submit all the information your insurers might need to process your claim. (list of stolen items, receipts of items, proof of ownership of valuables, passport copies etc.)

5. View the recording on your security camera (if you have one installed)

If you have installed a security camera, the recording of the crime and burglar in action may serve as an important piece of evidence for both the police and insurers. The footage may help the police to nab the criminal and you to understand and correct the weak links in your security.

It’s also time to move on

You have been through a frightening experience, leaving you feeling violated, upset and insecure. It takes a lot of time and courage to let go of the horrible feelings and feel completely safe and comfortable to carry on with your life like before. This is the time you seek help from your support system, be it your neighbors, friends or family. You can ask them to come and stay with you for a few days to help deal with the incident.

You may feel it can happen again. So, it is also the right time to take a stock of your security measures and see what can be done to improve it and prevent a burglary from happening again.

Most break-ins happen through the front door. Improve your front door security by installing a digital peephole camera, a high-quality deadbolt lock and also motion sensor lights. You may also consider installing a security camera. Make sure you dispose of packaging of your new purchases as this can signal burglars that your house has items worth stealing, making your house an attractive target. Of course, there are several other things you can include in this checklist, but these small steps are a good starting point to make sure your house is secure.

Call a reliable locksmith in your area to get a quick review on the condition of your locks and to assess what can be done to improve your home security. Racine’s Lock & Key is your professional and licensed locksmith in Racine and we specialize in offering home security solutions besides providing 24/7 residential locksmith services. We can help you replace existing locks with high-tech versions and also install security camera and digital peephole. Call us at (262) 509-0366 for an appointment. We will be delighted to serve you.