The Steps You Need to Take After a Burglary

The minutes, days, and weeks following a burglary of your home or business are frightening. You have no idea if the intruder will come back or even if the person is still inside. No matter where you live, you need a plan of action in case something happens to your property. These steps are critical to ensure your safety after a burglary.

Call the Cops Immediately

The minute you realize somebody burgled your home or business, call the authorities. Do not call from inside your home if you feel unsafe. Instead, find a safe place to sit and wait for authorities to arrive and investigate. Additionally, refrain from moving anything around.

If you are inside the house or business when somebody breaks in, find a safe place to hide and call the cops. If you need to be quiet while on the phone to avoid discovery, tell the operator and try to give your address quickly.

Keep Track of What Burglars Took

If you have been robbed, chances are that some of your items are now gone. If you have renter's or homeowner's insurance, you hopefully have those items registered with your insurance company. Take photos of the scene and keep track of the items missing. If you have serial numbers for those items, you can report them to the authorities in the hopes they will be found.

Once you have an idea about what the burglar took, call your insurance company to report the missing items. Call your insurance company as well to ensure you have a report with the company as soon as possible. The sooner you report the incident, the sooner you can start recovering your lost items.

Clean Your Home Mindfully

After a burglary, you are likely in a frame of mind where you want to clean your home. After all, everything broken and strewn about your home or business is just another reminder of the terrible situation. Some people believe the police are in charge of the clean-up process after crimes like these, but unfortunately, the responsibility falls to you.

Why is it so important to clean your home right away? Well, the mode of entry into your home could cause structural damage to your home. If the burglar kicked in your door or broke a window, somebody could also be injured by the debris left behind, such as broken glass.

When you clean up after the burglar, you should also assess any security measures that failed during the crime. If your door locks were easy to break, you should consider new locks for the entirety of your home or business. If cameras didn't capture the interaction, you may need to install new cameras or evaluate the placement of your current cameras.

Install a New Security System

After a burglary, many people no longer feel safe at home. They struggle with the idea that somebody broke into their safe place and took items they thought would be safe. For this reason, many people only feel secure after they find a new security system they trust. Thankfully, you have many options available.

While burglaries are on the decline, nearly two million people are affected by burglaries on an annual basis according to the FBI. With new security measures, you do not have to be one of those people. Cameras and alarms help curb invasions of your home.

Phoenix Access Control understands the risks you face during and after a robbery. If your home or place of business has been robbed, taking these steps is a great way to regain control of your space and feel comfortable and safe once again. Call us today to get started on a new security plan.