Coming home to discover that you have been burgled is most people’s worst nightmare, but it happens more often than you might think. A lot of people go into shock after such a discovery and don’t always think straight or do the best thing in the circumstances, but what should you do if you find yourself the victim of such a crime? Here are the five steps you need to take after a burglary.
Call the Police
The first thing you should do is call the police, especially if you think there is a chance that the burglar is still in your home. Don’t try to tackle the culprit yourself as this could result in you getting hurt or committing a crime yourself if you injure the burglar. Instead, find a safe place, such as your car or a neighbour’s house where you can watch your home and call the police.
Don’t Touch Anything
The best chance the police have of catching the criminal is through DNA or fingerprint evidence. They need fresh evidence that they might not get if you walk around your home and put your fingerprints and DNA on top of the burglar’s. It may be tempting to go into your home and check your belongings, but this won’t help the police to catch the culprit or get your belongings back.
Take an Inventory
Once the police tell you it is okay to go back into your home then you will need to check what has been stolen. Make a list of all the things that are missing as you go around your home and write it down. Your insurance company will need this information to settle your claim. Your next move should be to call your insurance company.
Call Your Bank
This may not be one of the first things you think of but it is one of the most important. You may have had bank or credit cards that you will need to cancel before your burglars go on a shopping spree. You should also notify your bank if you have had items stolen that could breach your banking security such as a laptop or tablet that contains your banking information.
Secure Your Home
If the burglars have broken in, then you will need to secure your home. To find local locksmiths you can ask the police or google Cardiff locksmiths, locksmith Pontypridd or whichever town you live in. A 24 hour locksmith may be a necessity depending on what time of day you discover the break in. Securing your home is not something that you will want to leave until the next day or the end of the weekend.
Becoming the victim of a burglary is a very upsetting experience because your safety and security have been violated. However, following these five steps will mean that you can take of the practical things quickly, although it may take you a little longer to recover from the shock of such a horrible crime.