What to Do if Your House is Broken Into

What do I do after a home break-in?

Here are the top three things you should do right away.

File a police report

Getting the police involved is key to catching the robbers and recovering your lost goods. Answer the police's questions, and let them gather evidence. You can help by writing down every detail you remember, all the way down to what type of shoes the intruders were wearing.

Take photos of your home before you put anything back in its place. A home security system can capture video to help the police in their investigations.

File an insurance report

Your next call should be to your insurance company. Depending on your coverage, your home insurance should help replace the items you lost, but it may be able to do more. Ask your claims adjuster about emergency funds or  deductible reimbursement to help you replace and repair locks, doors and other security features that have been damaged.

Your insurance company will also want to view your security system's video footage and any photographs you've taken. They will also want a copy of the police report.

Assess your home security system

Take a look at the home security system you had in place: Was it armed? Did it fail, or simply fall short of what you needed? If it did fail, do you know why? If it needs revamping, what extra security measures can you take?

Then, trace the burglar's entry and add extra security measures to resolve any vulnerability there, in order to help prevent future home invasions. But don't stop there—make sure you do a thorough vulnerability audit and add extra security measures to other possible points of entry.

Do burglars return to the same house?

Understanding how to help protect against home invasion can lead you to take proactive steps to make sure you never undergo this horrific experience again. One of the most valuable steps you can take is to install a home security system that includes monitoring. Take a look at the benefits of having a reliable  home security system working for you:

• A home security system helps protect you against home invasion robberies—and your valuables, personal treasures and home itself.
• The remote monitoring services available with your home security system means someone can always be available to respond to an emergency.
• Most home security systems also provide protection and warning against other dangers, including fire and carbon monoxide.
• A modern home security system lets you monitor your home even when you're not there.
• It also provides added security for your kids. You can keep an eye on them when they're home alone or let them in remotely if they forgot their key.
• Having a home security system is likely to lower your home insurance premiums by certain percentages depending on your system and provider.

Ready for some help preventing future break-ins, whether or not you've experienced one? Call us at 844-669-2221 or fill out the form below for more information.

Editor's note: This post was originally published in April 2020 and has been revamped and updated for comprehensiveness.

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