Imagine this scenario: you park your car in the driveway after a long day at work and walk up to your home to see your front door kicked open or a window shattered. There’s a rush of emotions as you wonder what could’ve happened and why your home was the target of a break-in.
A break-in can be a whirlwind of emotions – feelings of fear, panic, stress, being violated, and many more. However, in this haze of emotions, there are actions that need to be taken in a timely manner.
Here’s what needs to be done if your house is burglarized:
Call the authorities and your insurance company
Whether you were in your home when the burglary occurred or discovered the break-in when you get home; call the police and don’t touch anything. Attempting to clean up could destroy evidence that could be used to catch the burglars and prevent other homeowners from suffering the same fate.
Also, if you weren’t at home when the burglary took place (as in the scenario described above,, don’t go inside. Await the arrival of the police in your locked car or at a neighbor’s house as the burglar(s) could still be inside.
When the police arrive on scene, you’ll need to file a report within 24 hours. Your insurance provider will need the report to validate your claim. The company may want to send an adjuster to the scene of the crime, which means that you may have to stay elsewhere until someone can come to your home.
After the police are done taking photos and sweeping for fingerprints, you can start assessing the damage. Doing so may be traumatic, but it’s necessary to determine exactly what was stolen or damaged.
Make two lists – one of damaged items and one of stolen items – and give copies to the police and your insurance carrier. This is one instance in which a home inventory – a complete list of all of your possessions which includes each item’s value and photos and receipts when possible – comes in handy. Trying to think of what may be missing and how much each item is worth is extremely difficult in a state of duress.
Clean and make aesthetic changes
Cleaning up after a burglary – much like assessing damage – is emotionally taxing. Get rid of furniture and appliances that are no longer usable and try to restore your home. When putting the ransacked room(s) back together, consider painting the walls and rearranging furniture. These simple changes can go a long way in helping you to overcome the emotional stress the event put on you.
Address your home’s security and your emotional well-being
To help put your mind at ease after being the victim of a burglary, change your home’s locks. Other things you could do to beef up security and take steps toward not being burglarized again include installing shatter-proof screen doors and contracting to get a security system. You could earn a discount of 10% or more on your premium for having a security system.
If you already have a security system, check for weaknesses and consider upgrades. If your security system included video surveillance, watch the footage to see where potential problems are and then give copies of the video to the police and your insurance provider.
If you’ve taken all of these steps already and are still feeling unsafe in your home, consider taking self-defense classes. Doing this will help you feel physically prepared, which can help you emotionally overcome your fears. If the self-defense classes don’t help, consider counseling or therapy.
Photo credit for preview image: Flickr user/Tim Samoff
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