My House Was Broken Into. What Do I Do?

In addition to suffering property damage and losing irreplaceable items, the emotional toll of a burglary is overwhelming. To help you and your family cope, we’ve put together this guide that includes steps to take after a house break-in has occurred, and tips to help you prevent a burglary from happening again.

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While most burglars will run the moment they hear you approach, some will hide in your home and could pose an incredible threat to your family’s safety. 

If you arrive home and think your home has been burglarized, get out immediately. Do not look for the thief.

Then, call 911. You don’t need to confirm that items have been stolen to contact police.

If you are not in the house when you discover it has been robbed, do not go into your home to make the phone call.

Some burglars wear gloves, but not all do. Resist opening jewelry drawers and touching anything inside your home.  Fingerprints are powerful prosecutors, but they are delicate and can easily be destroyed. Until police have given you the okay to do so, don’t touch anything. Make police aware if you find something that may belong to the intruder, but don’t touch it.

Find shelter in a neighbor’s house, or get back in your car and lock the doors until police arrive. Make note of any unfamiliar people or cars you might see near your home, jotting down physical descriptions and license plates numbers. Often, what seems out of place is, and your seemingly unimportant information could help police track down the criminal.

When the police arrive, make a complete list of all valuables that have been taken, including a thorough description and the approximate value of each. You may even want to draw pictures and include any unique identifying marks. You’ll also want to write down the make, model and serial numbers of electronics, which you can often find in owner's manuals. 

Take pictures of damaged property, such as door and windows, and also items inside your home like tables, lamps, and even knick-knacks that have been damaged.

Before you can file an insurance claim, you’ll need to file the police report, so it's important to write your list as quickly but comprehensively as possible.

Also, if you saw anybody exit your residence, write down any descriptive information you can, including sex, age, race, clothing, identifiable marks, and the direction they went after leaving your home.

Whether you have homeowners insurance or renters insurance, there is a chance that you could recoup a decent amount for what was stolen. You need to file a claim, though. Call within 24 hours and make sure you have submitted all necessary information to the police, as the insurance company will need that information to process your claim.

They will likely send over a claims adjuster to investigate the claim in person, so if that is the case, you may want to stay elsewhere until the adjuster can come out so you don’t accidentally clean up or tamper with important evidence.

Should you already have security cameras in place around your home, you may have the ability to view the video footage of the break-in itself. Emotionally prepare yourself, as it can be even more violating to actually see the burglar(s) break in on camera.

Take this footage to the police and your insurance company as further documented proof. Use the footage to determine where the security weaknesses are in your home so that you can begin to figure out where you need to increase safety measures to prevent any future occurrences.

Many parents find that it’s best to have their children stay with friends or relatives until their home has been put back in order. While this isn't always possible, it’s a good idea.

The wreckage some burglars create is unimaginable and your children (regardless of their age) will be overcome with emotion when they find their “safe place” has been ruined by a stranger.

Believe it or not, pets also react to a burglary. You may find Fido hiding in a corner or insisting on jumping into your bed. Everyone in your family will need extra TLC after a burglary, including you.

Putting your home back in order will help you start to regain your sense of control, and is the first step to enjoying life as you once knew it. Ask friends and family to help, because the task will be an emotional one, especially if your home was ransacked.

Remember, if you come by an item that’s not yours, report it to police. It could be an item that helps police catch the burglar, or connect them to another crime.

Nothing you do will 100% guarantee your home (and your family’s) security, but a few things can help reduce the chance you’ll suffer another burglary. You must be proactive and educate yourself on your home security options.

There's a security system for every budget, from the ultra-affordable Wyze Home Monitoring to the legendary ADT. Check out our top ten favorite home security systems to find what's best for you.

Here are some more ideas:

• Buy or upgrade door and window locks.
• Place security film over your windows to make them more difficult to break.
• Get added security for the garage door.
• Purchase motion-sensitive lights for outside your doors.
• Install a dummy security camera, or put your indoor and outdoor lights on timers.
• Check our home security checklist to help you find vulnerable areas of your home.

Don’t hesitate to ask a law enforcement official to come to your home and conduct a security survey, too. Most agencies are glad to send an officer to your home, and it won’t cost you a cent.

While the police officer is there, it’s a good time to pick their brain on other ways you can protect your family’s safe haven and inquire about crime in your neighborhood.

You’ll also want to make a list of all make, model and serial numbers for electronics, and take pictures of your most expensive or irreplaceable items. Keep in mind that many police jurisdictions will serialize your items at no charge.

You can save money with the self-monitoring route, but we recommend professional alarm monitoring for a swift response in the case of a break-in or other emergency. Consider a company with a live video alarm verification service—like SimpliSafe or ADT—so that the monitoring company can quickly relay important clues about the suspect to the police.

With these tools, you’ll be much less likely to have to ask yourself, “My house was broken into. What do I do?” If you were recently burglarized, we understand how vulnerable you must feel and how much you want to secure your home so this never happens to you again. Our best recommendation to make this happen is to get a home security system.

• How to Recover from a Burglary
• What to Do When a Burglary Occurs in Your Neighborhood
• How to Outsmart a Burglar and Keep Your Home Safe
• What to Do When an Intruder Is in Your Home
• The Apartment Security Guide for Renters