Through an unfortunate series of circumstances, an opportunity presented itself for your home to be the target of criminals… Don’t worry, you’re not alone; unfortunately, break-ins happen more often than any of us would like.

If you’ve suffered a break-in, you might feel overwhelmed and not know what do next.

Here’s what you should do immediately if you’ve suffered a break-in.

1. Call the police

Notifying the police as soon as you realise your home has been broken into is a top priority. They will file the break-in report and do their best with the available evidence to potentially track down those responsible.

Delaying your police report could impact your insurance and chances of being reunited with your belongings, so ensure that you do this immediately.

If you aren’t home when you notice the break-in, police advise for your safety that you remain outside of the home until they have arrived, in case the culprit(s) are still inside your property.

2. Check what has been stolen from your home

Whilst working with the police as they take down your statement for their report, you will need to recount to the best of your ability the items that have been stolen from your home during the break-in.

Thieves tend to target high value items such as expensive, high tech gadgets, jewellery and cash, so check areas in your home where these may be stored.

If you have insurance, this is also a good time to give them a call and notify them of the break-in. They will be able to help you go through all of the necessary steps in claiming on your insurance for any stolen goods from your home.

3. Come to terms with the break-in emotionally

When you return home to discover a break-in, you may feel shocked, scared and panicked as a result.

If the break-in was a particularly traumatic event for you and your family, do not hesitate to seek any additional support to help you come to terms with the break-in.

4. Clean up

Ensure that you feel emotionally ready to do this first. Many people have said that cleaning up after a break-in can also be an emotional experience, especially if sentimental or valuable items have been broken as a result of the break-in.

5. Take essential measures to protect your home from theft

If there was any damage to your doors or windows, you will need to call out a professional to carry out the repair. You should also call an emergency break-in service to temporarily board your windows for better immediate safety.

For extra security and peace of mind, you could also consider changing your locks and installing burglar alarm software if you feel it is necessary.

Wrapping up

If you’ve returned home or woken up to find your house was broken into, it can be a traumatic time for you and your family.

By following these five steps immediately after a break in, you can begin to get your home feeling back to normal as soon as possible.