What to do After a Home Invasion or Burglary

what to do after break in

Each day, approximately 4,800 home burglaries take place in the US, nearly one every 15 seconds. Crime statistics vary from location to location but unfortunately, a home invasion is a somewhat common occurrence in America. More crime occurs where more people live so if you’re in a dense part of Los Angeles such as the Westmont neighborhood you’ll see a burglary crime rate of 8.89 per 1000 residents whereas in Tunbridge, Vermont, population 1,337, a home invasion would be more rare at .003 occurrences per 1000 residents. Population density does not always equate to more crime per capita but many times places with more retail or tourists have higher crime numbers. But that doesn’t necessarily mean your home or apartment is at more risk of burglary in those areas. See our local crime maps for more detailed US crime data by zip code.

An incident at home can leave you feeling vulnerable and ready to do something to prevent another break-in. Here are some of the most important steps you should take after a home invasion:

Steps to take after a home burglary:

Step 0: Get to safety

We’re calling this "step 0" because we’re mostly focused on what to do after a home invasion. However, we think it’s worth noting that if you find yourself in the midst of an ongoing burglary you should get everyone to safety as soon as possible and leave all of the below for later. There are too many unknowns in a scenario like this so it’s best to let your local police handle the live situation. The home invader is most likely there for money and belongings, not a physical confrontation, but things can escalate quickly and it is better to be safe. Possessions can be replaced; people cannot. 

Step 1: Call the police, assess the situation

Even if there seems to be no chance of catching the culprit after a home invasion, you may still need help from the police. They’ll file a report that may be required for a home insurance claim and there’s a slight chance that your case could have clues or reveal a pattern of crime that you’re unaware of. So even if it feels useless, call the police and make sure the crime is recorded.

You’ll also want to make a list of anything that was broken or taken so that you can use it for a home/renter’s insurance claim. This list can also be useful for getting your belongings back from the robber if the police eventually catch them.

Step 2: Call your home insurance provider

In addition to a quick list of items you’ve lost in the break-in, you’ll want to take pictures of the incident to help prove your case to your home insurance provider. If you can dig up receipts for any of the major items lost such as TVs, expensive art, jewelry, computers, etc, those will be helpful. It will be tough to feel like you’re having to "prove" a crime you know was committed and calculate the monetary worth of the items you own. Expect some pushback from your home insurance provider on the replacement value of items such as collectibles or technology. It might not be a bad idea to read your current homeowners policy now (or call them) to make sure you understand what is covered after a break-in, what isn’t, and how much of a deductible you’ll be responsible for.. You may even want to file away an itemized list of your treasured items now to refer back to in case there is an incident. Having pictures of your collectibles and high-price items beforehand will save you time and make it easier to file a claim.

Step 3: Talk about it as a family or with friends (self care)

A home invasion can be very frightening and change your notion of personal safety in your neighborhood. Talk with friends and family about the incident and remember that it’s okay to not feel 100% okay after a home invasion. You may need to miss work or talk to a therapist and those needs are hopefully respected and understood by your family, friends and employer.

Step 4: Install a home security system

It may feel like you are a day late installing a home security system if you wait until after a burglary happens, but it can give you the peace of mind you need to resume your life. Check out our guide to the best home security systems to see what systems fit your budget and needs. You also may want to consider 

Step 5: Follow up with police and home insurance 

This may take some time and the paperwork will be frustrating but it’s important to remember that while it might seem like these agencies don’t care about you and your situation, they have protocols that must be followed to ensure that everyone is treated fairly. Be polite and don’t expect anything to happen overnight.  

As common as burglaries seem when looking at the numbers, they can still be devastating when they happen to you. Knowing what to do if one occurs can help bring you peace of mind and will hopefully help you get your possessions back relatively quickly.