It’s a frightening concept and a situation that no one wants to find themselves in, being a victim of a burglary. According to GJD and IFSEC Global, in the UK there is an attempted burglary on a private residence every 45 seconds, with a successful burglary every 76 seconds! With these statistics in mind, it is crucial to not only be mindful about preventative measures to ensure your home is secure but also to know what to do if you do happen to find yourself in this unfortunate situation.
Assess The Situation
If you have come home to your property to find that it has been broken into, it’s important to assess the situation. If the burglars have already left you may enter the property, but you need to be sure that this is the case as if they are still at the site, you may be in danger.
If after assessing the situation calmly you believe that the burglar is still in the property or in the vicinity, this will be classified as an emergency and you should call 999. Do not attempt to enter the property but stay in a safe place, away from the house where you can wait for the police to arrive.
If you are sure that the burglar is not in the house or on the premises, this is not an emergency situation. However you must still make it your priority to contact your local police station.
Don’t touch anything
It is vital that you don’t touch anything in the house, as you may affect the police investigation by moving evidence that could assist them in their work. A team of forensic investigators will visit the property shortly afterwards, to carry out their search for evidence of the burglar.
Call your Insurance Company
Contact your home insurance company when you can, within 24 hours in order to start the claim process. They will arrange for a Loss adjuster to visit you at your property. It is their job to settle the claim equitably and to ensure that policy conditions are complied with.
Do you have video evidence?
If you have a security camera on your property it may contain vital evidence to help find the criminal who has burgled your property. Make sure that the police and insurance company have access to this.
Prevent being burgled in the future
This may be a good time to reassess the security of your home and take measures to ensure that this does not happen again in the future. A home security system and alarm may be the best way forward in securing your home. Also make sure that you check your locks and doors, as this is one of the main ways that a burglar will gain entrance to a property.
Victim Support Services
It can be a very traumatic experience being burgled, leaving the victim feeling anxious and upset, with many people needing some extra support after the event. There is a free and confidential advice service available to support victims and witnesses of crime, Victim Support. www.victimsupport.org.uk
If after reading this, you feel that your home is in need of further security measures to prevent becoming a victim of burglary, call a member of our team today on 0800 193 0432 or contact us through our enquiry form.