When you become a victim of a break-in it can be an emotional and stressful time. Although this is a distressing experience it is important that you try and stay focused and follow steps to ensure that your home life can get back to normal as soon as possible. From recovering your losses to getting piece of mind we have put together a few bits of advice that can help you on your way.
Contact the Police – Firstly you should call the police, this may seem obvious, but it is important that it is done as soon as possible after you discover the break in for two reasons. The first being that police will want to come to your property to interview you, as well as forensics for evidence and finger prints which may lead to your good being discovered quicker so it may also be a good idea not to touch anything until they have been, the second reason is that the police will leave you with a crime reference number which you will need for any insurance claims.
Make Insurance Claim – Make a detailed list of what has gone missing for the insurance company, you should also provide this to the police. In most cases you will need to make your claim within 24 hours of doing the police report so get straight on it! In some cases, for larger items and damage to the property the insurance company may send someone out to your property to verify the claim.
Clean Up and Make Repairs – When the police have left, and you have finished dealing with your insurance company the next step it to get cleared up. Leaving the mess and damage is just a reminder of what has happened so cleaning up can work wonders for you mental well being. If there is any damage to your property in particular the doors and windows, then it is important to get a professional out as soon as possible to come and repair them and ensure that your property is left secure. When your insurance claim has gone through you can then start to replace missing items, so your home can return back to normal.
Home Security Improvements – Improving your home security will not only give you piece of mind but it will also be a huge deterrent for any future burglars that mat attempt a break in. There are lots of ways you can do this, upgrade your door locks, install CCTV, Strengthen doors and windows. If you are unsure on how you can improve your home security, then a good local locksmith should be able to asses your property and advice you on what would be the best measures to put in place.
If you have been broken into or would like to find out what you can do to help secure your home against a break in then contact I & S Lock Service for advice and guidance on what to do in the event of a break-in, and measures that can be put in place to improve your home security – 01290 425106
