Burglary & break-ins · 5 min read
Been burgled?
The first 24 hours.
It's a horrible feeling and it's easy to make things harder for yourself in the first hour. Here's the order to do things in, written for someone who's just walked in and found the back door open.
First: don't touch anything yet
If you think they might still be inside, leave and call 999. Otherwise call 101 (or report online) and don't tidy up until you've spoken to the police — fingerprints and footprints matter and they may send someone. Take photos of everything as you found it.
Hour one
- Get a crime reference number from the police. Your insurer will ask for it.
- Photograph damage, entry point, and every room as found.
- If you have CCTV, export the footage now — see what the police need — and don't let the recorder overwrite it.
- If a neighbour has cameras facing the street, ask them today. Footage gets overwritten in days.
Same day
- Secure the entry point. If a door or window is broken, get it boarded or a locksmith out — insurers expect the property to be secured.
- Change locks if keys were taken. Change alarm and app codes if a keypad or phone was taken.
- Call your insurer. List what's gone with rough values; photos of receipts help.
- Cancel or freeze cards, and check for any documents taken that could be used for identity fraud.
This week
Burglars sometimes come back — for the things they left, or once the insurance has replaced what they took. This is the week to close the gap they used. A survey shows exactly how they got in and what would have stopped it; we can usually install within days.
We see this a lot: cameras that weren't recording, weren't covering the side, or gave grey blobs at night. A takeover audit tells you why, and fixes what's fixable rather than replacing everything.
Your property decides. Not the logo.
Questions
Good to know.
Will the police come out?
It depends on the force and the circumstances. Reporting promptly with a clear description and any footage makes it more likely.
Will my insurance pay out if I had no alarm?
Usually yes, but check the policy — some require specific locks or an alarm to be set. Not securing the property after the break-in can affect a claim.
How quickly can you install after a burglary?
Survey within a day or two, installation shortly after. Tell us it's post-break-in and we prioritise it.