The aftermath of a burglary affects different people in different ways and it can be can be an extremely distressing and unsettling time.   In addition to any material losses, a burglary is also a violation of privacy and it’s natural to feel anxious, angry, helpless, fearful and vulnerable.

But regardless of how you are feeling, it’s important that you respond quickly if you have experienced a break-in because you need to protect yourself, your loved ones and your property and assist the police in safeguarding the community.

Here are eight steps you can take after a burglary which will help you recover from the experience and hopefully prevent it from happening again.

1. Notify the police

Call the police on 000 the moment you realise you are the victim of a burglary.   The responder will tell you what to expect but remember, your first priority is safety, so if there’s evidence that your property has been broken into, you need to make sure that the offender/s are no longer around before you enter.   Try to remain calm and even if your belongings are strewn all over the place, it’s best not to touch them as the police may look for evidence and fingerprints.

The police will also give you a case number which you will need for insurance purposes.

2. Determine what’s missing

Make a note of items that you can immediately see that are missing eg TV, mobile phone, computers, wallet, handbag, spare keys to your home or vehicle etc.   It’s important to do this as soon as possible so that you can notify your bank and mobile phone service provider to put a stop on your accounts.  You should also change important passwords as soon as possible.  And if you have a location app on your phone (like Find My Friends), you should access that as soon as you can to see the whereabouts of your devices.

3. Make sure your home is secure again

A burglary means your security has been compromised so you need to establish how and where the intruders got in and make sure it can’t happen again.  If there is any damage to a door or window or any broken glass you need to call in a handyman or glazier to have it fixed.   If a lock has been tampered with or keys have been stolen, you should find a reputable locksmith to change the locks immediately.

4. Check CCTV security cameras

If you have CCTV security cameras in operation at your property, you should check the footage as soon as possible for any evidence that will help identify the offenders.  You should also ask your neighbours if any of their CCTV camera systems picked up any criminal activity at your property.

5. Notify your insurer

You need to notify your insurance company that you have been a victim of a burglary to determine the next steps.  You may be able to submit your claim online, otherwise an assessor may be required and depending on your policy, your insurance company may be able to help you with immediate costs and further security arrangements.

6. Do an inventory of missing items

Make a list of items that have been stolen and attach any receipts, invoices, photographs or valuations that will facilitate your insurance claim.

8. Be kind to yourself

An emotional response to a burglary is entirely normal and it’s vital that you are kind to yourself and seek help for yourself and any other family members if necessary.  Reach out for support from family and friends and consider professional counselling if anyone in your family needs help with processing the situation and moving forward.

8. Conduct a full security audit at your property

It’s never too late to secure your property.  Yes, you’ve had a burglary but it’s really important to prevent a recurrence, so you should conduct a full security audit of your property to determine where improvements need to be made.   Look for weak spots where intruders can access your property.  Check your door and window locks.  Make sure any sliding doors are properly secured.  Is your backyard shed or garage fully lockable so that intruders can’t gain access to ladders, crowbars etc?

It’s a good idea to talk to a professional security company about how to safeguard your loved ones, your possessions and your property.   They will have practical suggestions like keeping valuables out of sight, getting to know your neighbours and keeping your windows and doors locked even when you’re at home, but a longer-term solution may be to install a reliable home alarm system.

Crime is an unfortunate reality today but there are things we can do to protect ourselves and our property and quality home security is one of the most important.  If you want to discuss any aspect of home security and CCTV cameras in Perth, your best bet is Crown Security.

They have been in the business of home security in Perth since 1994 and have a long-standing reputation for innovative and technologically advanced security systems that are surprisingly affordable.  For friendly and obligation-free advice on any aspect of domestic or commercial security, get in contact with Crown Security on 08 9400 600