Michael Curry
Home burglaries are bound to leave you emotionally shaken, but what do you do when you’re in panic mode?
Knowing what steps to take when your home has been burgled will make it easier for you to protect yourself and your family – even when you’re feeling anxious about future break-ins and depressed about what you’ve lost.
Let LockShop Direct help you to get through the process as quickly, and painlessly, as possible.
Step 1 – call the Police
As soon as you notice your property has been burgled, you need to call the Metropolitan Police. The sooner you call them, the sooner they can catch the culprit who broke into your home, and hopefully return what was taken.
The Police will guide and advise you what to do over the phone – but make sure you don’t go into the property or touch anything, as it could be vital evidence.
Step 2 – write everything down
Once the Police have arrived, you’ll be asked to go into your property and to make a list of the items that have been stolen. Remember, the more information you can provide about the items…the better.
Make a copy of the items you’re missing and give it to your insurance company.
If you managed to catch a glimpse of the criminal as they fled your property, or you saw what direction they headed in, this is extremely useful information for the investigation and should also be passed on to the Police.
Step 3 – call your insurance company
Insurance claims must be filed within 24 hours of the break-in, so make sure you call them as soon as you can.
Again, don’t touch or move anything as a property inspector will visit your property to assess the damage.
If your car keys were stolen – let your insurance company know as burglars may come back to steal your car whilst your sleeping. Your insurance company can arrange for your car to be taken in and to have the spare key reprogrammed.
Step 4 – (if applicable) watch CCTV footage back
Does your property have CCTV cameras already installed? Watching burglars in action can be violating, so make sure you’re emotionally prepared. Take the footage to the police station and your insurer as more evidence.
The footage from the CCTV cameras will determine where the security weakness is, allowing you to take suitable safety measures and to prevent future break-ins.
Step 5 – call your bank
If bank cards and cheques were stolen, you’ll need to call your bank to put a block on them and to request a replacement.
For stolen tablets, computers or smartphones which were used for online banking, inform the bank as they can put a stop to transactions and prevent your details from being accessed – ultimately eliminating the risk of fraud.
Step 6 – clean up from the break-in
After everything has been recorded, you can start to think about cleaning up. The quicker you get your home in order, the quicker you can move past the break in!
Start by clearing items that are broken or strewn across the floor, then focus on repairing damage to the floor/walls and board windows and doors up until you find suitable replacements.
Step 7 – take safety measures
A great way to secure your home after you’ve been burgled is to purchase new window and door locks, like the ones LockShop Direct provide.
LockShop Direct supply a wide range of other burglary deterrents, including home security systems such as:
- window and door alarms
- motion sensor lights
- floodlights
- dummy security cameras
LockShop’s deterrents are supplied in leading security brands, including ERA, Yale, Sureguard and their very own LockShop Direct brand – providing you with the ultimate security solution.
Other safety measures include the installation of alarm monitoring systems, like the ERA Valiant – wireless solar siren alarm kit, which alerts both you and the authority when someone breaks-in.
For more information, call the team at LockShop Direct on 0845 830 0832 or email info@lockshopdirect.co.uk today and they will gladly assist you in choosing the most suitable products for your home.
