It Could Happen - Home Burglary

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Burglaries happen even in the safest neighborhoods, but you can take certain precautions to decrease your risk.

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According to the SafeWise Report, a safety and home security resource, a home is robbed in the United States every 15 seconds.  And while fear and confusion are instinctive responses, those hours immediately after a burglary are critical to ensuring your safety and the retrieval or replacement of your belongings.

Once you realize you’ve been robbed, follow these steps:

• Exit your house immediately.  The robber could still be in your home, so make your personal safety a priority by leaving the premises.
• Call the police.  Report the incident and any details you may have (i.e. did you see someone enter or leave, damage to the entrance, etc.) 
• Take photos and document.  Once the police have deemed the area safe to enter, take photos and determine what items are missing and/or damaged. 
• File a claim.  Contact your insurance company as soon as possible to file a claim for the missing or damaged items. 

Burglaries happen even in the safest neighborhoods, but you can take certain precautions to decrease your risk.  Always lock your doors and windows, secure your valuables, and never advertise on social media when you won’t be home.  And don’t forget:  many robbers are deterred by those houses that advertise security systems, and most insurance companies offer a discount for homes equipped with alarms.  You can’t control everything, but you can live assured when you’ve done all you can to protect your home and your family.