What to do if your house is robbed

It may be obvious, or it may take some time to notice, but once you’ve realised that your home has been broken into and your belongings have been stolen, what you do next can be important. We’ve compiled a list of what to do when your house is broken into so that you can potentially get the best result from police investigations and also from your home and contents insurance.

1. Report the crime to police

If you suspect someone is still in your home or nearby, find a safe place and call police on Triple Zero (000) immediately. Otherwise, you can contact Policelink on 131 444, or submit your crime report online through your state or territory’s police website.

2. Make an inventory of what is missing

You will need to provide a list of items that are missing from your home, as well as any damage, on the police report. Check each room and any locations where valuables are kept. Be as thorough as you can. You can add to your report if you find more items missing after you have submitted it.

3. Follow police instructions

The police will let you know if they will be conducting a forensic check of your property to search for fingerprints or evidence to help their investigation. If they do need to do this, it’s a good idea to cause minimal disruption to your property to prevent tampering with any potential evidence.

4. Cancel cards burglars have access to

If a wallet or any identification documents has been stolen, make sure to report these to the police. Also contact any financial institution to cancel credit or debit cards and notify your provider if you notice any transactions that were not made by you.

5. Contact your insurance provider

Once you have the police report, you can contact your home and contents insurance provider, if you have one. You will need to provide the details of what happened and a copy of the report to lodge a claim. It’s also a good idea to read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and Target Market Determination (TMD) for your policy to understand what is and is not covered, and whether any value limits apply for certain items. Also be aware of possible exclusions, such as whether a hidden key was used in the break in or if the home was unlocked at the time.

If you submit a home and contents claim, your insurance provider will assess it  and let you know the next steps for any repairs or replacement of items.

6. Review the security of your home

If police have determined how the intruders gained access to your home, it is a good idea to improve the security of that area. You could also consider additional security measures such as CCTV, new locks on doors and windows and a safe for valuables. If any keys were stolen, you will need to change the locks in your home to prevent a follow-up break in.

Tips for preventing a break in

Suncorp’s Head of Home Claims, Joel Manning, suggests the following tips to help keep your home and contents safe.

• Ask your friends or neighbours to keep an eye on your property and collect your mail while you’re away.
• Check your alarm system is working.
• Be mindful of how you promote your travel plans on social media.
• Put your valuables in a safe or out of sight.
• Check you’ve got the right locks on all your doors and windows – it’s best if installed by a locksmith.
• Keep trees and bushes near windows trimmed to increase visibility.
• Keep a list and photos of your valuables – this will help should the worst happen and you need to make a claim.
• The most common entry points for a burglary are the garage, followed by the bedroom and kitchen. Make sure doors and windows are secured and locked before you hit the road.
• Check your home and contents insurance is up to date and includes any extra special items you may want to protect.

Cover image source: SpeedKingz/Shutterstock.com