What Happens After You've Been Burgled?

Being burgled is an undeniably scary experience, and it’s often hard to comprehend what comes next in the midst of all the commotion. Despite this, burglary is much more common than you may think, with 267,000 burglaries being reported in 2021 in the UK alone. Therefore, whether you’re a home- or businessowner, it’s always wise to familiarise yourself with what happens after you’ve been burgled.

With this being said, the likelihood of being burgled is significantly reduced with the right security measures in place, such as keyholding and alarm response or manned guarding. Here at Diamond Protection Limited, we offer a wide array of security solutions to suit all manner of businesses or residencies, meaning that your safety is at the forefront of our priorities.

Don’t Touch Anything

Upon discovering that you’ve been burgled, the first thing to remember is not to touch anything. It’s imperative that you fight every instinct to tidy up or scrub your house, as you may be compromising evidence by doing so. Although you should avoid touching anything, it’s a good idea to photograph the scene, including broken windows/doors and even empty spaces that your property once inhabited. This will aid you in the insurance claim process and may lead to the burglar being caught and prosecuted.

Contact the Police

If you discover that you’ve already been burgled, you should call 101 so that the police can provide you with a Crime Reference Number. This number is required for claiming your contents insurance. However, if you discover the burglary whilst it’s taking place, this is considered an emergency and you should call 999 immediately. Although this can be a scary experience, it’s important that you try and remain calm, and rest assured that the police will get to you as quickly as possible.

Cancel Stolen Cards

In the instance that you find your debit/credit cards or cheque books have been stolen, you should contact your bank or credit card company as a matter of urgency. Similarly, if phones, tablets, or laptops with bank details or logins on them are also stolen, you should also call your finance providers.

Contact Your Mobile Phone Provider

Additionally, should your mobile phone be stolen, you’ll also need to contact your phone provider to block your account. Furthermore, if you have important passwords saved on your phone, these will also need to be changed immediately.

Create an Inventory

Evidence is key when it comes to making insurance claims, meaning that you need to collect plenty of evidence regarding what has been taken from your property. Evidence includes valuations, receipts, and photographs, as these will indicate what has been stolen and what the costs are. Most commonly, burglars will steal electrical items, watches and jewellery, computer equipment, cards, money, wallets, and purses. Similarly, work materials and tools are often stolen from sheds and outbuildings. Therefore, it’s wise to ensure that these items are as secure as possible within your property.

On top of this, if you find that your passport or driving licence is missing, the passport office and DVLA need to be urgently contacted respectively.

Reach Out to Your Insurer

If your home is covered by insurance, now is the time to reach out to your insurer with a list of what has been stolen. As previously mentioned, you’ll need to provide them with a Crime Reference Number from the police. Some insurance agencies will accept your claim online, so check with your relevant insurer to see what your next port of call is after a burglary.

Secure Your Home Against Future Instances

After being burgled, you’ll want to do everything in your power to prevent it from happening again. A quarter of burglaries occur due to insecure property, meaning that securing your property is incredibly valuable. You can ensure that your property is secure by locking all doors and windows, locking ladders away, hiding valuables, and lighting your property’s exterior. Similarly, placing gravel in your front garden will make it impossible for a burglar to approach quietly, whilst anti-climb paint will inhibit them from scaling the property.

Update Your Security System

Regardless of how secure your property may be, it can still be incredibly vulnerable to the threat of burglary. Therefore, updating your security system is the best way to protect your home or business. If you’re unsure about which security services would best benefit your property, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with Diamond Protection Limited. You can arrange a site visit with us, wherein we determine which security services would be most appropriate to your property. From alarm response and keyholding services to door supervisors, our security solutions are incredibly varied and bespoke to each of our clients. Secure your property with Diamond Protection today.