What action to take after a burglary

Just the thought of being burgled can send shivers down your spine. Not only have unwanted guests been in your home but may have taken treasured possessions you may never see again, which are irreplaceable.

At Borg Locks we understand that unfortunately, burglaries do happen, but what happens directly after? With good advice and a step-by-step guide, we hope we can help you through the tough time ahead.

Notify the police

Report the burglary to the police straight away. The number to dial if it’s happened already is 101 and you’ll be given a Crime Reference Number. You’ll need to use this for insurance claims. If the burglary is currently taking place you will need to dial 999 immediately.

Don’t touch or move anything

You may be tempted to move or tidy things away, but you need to leave everything as you found it. The scene of a crime provides much-needed clues and evidence that the police will need to gather.

Take photos

These may help insurance claims, even if it’s just of an empty space of where something was taken from or broken windows or locks.

Cancel cards

If you’ve had cards stolen, then the best advice is to cancel them. Notify your bank or credit card company as soon as possible, to prevent possible card fraud.

Notify the network mobile phone provider

If someone else runs up a big phone bill you may have to pay for the cost of the calls up until the time you reported the phone missing. Your network provider can block your phone and give you your phone’s identification number (IMEI), which you can pass on to the police.

Notify your insurer

Before calling you’ll need to be able to provide them with a list of stolen goods and a crime ref no.

Burglaries are more likely to be prevented if the right steps are taken.

1. Lock all windows, doors and side gates
2. Keep ladders out of sight or locked away
3. Hideaway visible valuables
4. Illuminate dark areas outside the house
5. Lay noisy gravel on a driveway or near entrances
6. Anti-climb paint

If you would like further advice on how to keep your home secure or thinking about replacing locks, then please give us a call on 01708 225700 or email: sales@borglocks.com