A break-in is always a major, and often traumatic experience
The police calls. There’s been a break-in at your home. You’re in a meeting, at the theatre or a birthday party; the police gathers evidence in your apartment. You want to get back home as quickly as possible. Jewellery, money and pictures have been stolen. You’re in a state of shock. You think of the endless formalities and chores you’ll have to wade through: repairs, insurance statements, cleaning up. But the most unbearable part of it all is that a stranger has invaded your private space.
If you do happen to catch the burglar in the act, you must follow the golden rule: Don’t be a hero!
Do not put yourself or others at risk, your personal safety is the top priority.
Observe the following principles:
- Never get in the way of intruders
- Remain calm, get to safety
- Alert the police by calling the emergency number 112 or 117
- If possible, do not enter your house or flat before the police arrive
- Do not touch anything
After the break-in
After a break-in, victims often feel abandoned. Lots of break-ins are never resolved, the perpetrators get away undetected and often never leave any usable clues behind. The full impact and effects of the fear and psychological stress often only emerge later on, but there are lots of things to sort out straight after the incident.
That’s why Securitas Direct recommends you do the following:
- Inform your insurance company
- Make a list of the stolen items and include receipts, photos, warranty certificates, etc.
- Block stolen credit/debit cards
- Block your e-banking
- Create new passwords for your PC, laptop, mobile
- Change the locks on your doors if the keys are missing
- Organise tradesmen for the repairs
Victims are hit by the hard reality of what happened when they clear up the mess. They see broken locks, smashed outdoor lighting and windows, damaged furniture, ransacked cupboards, and blatant acts of malicious destruction.
This experience can trigger a whole range of emotions: shock, anger, horror, aggression, grief, fear. Because of this brute violation of their private space, victims torment themselves thinking about all the things the intruders touched, what papers they read, and so on.
The property is most likely trashed and valuables stolen, but far more painful is the loss of what cannot be replaced: stolen keepsakes of insignificant monetary value, but priceless emotional value.
