While most burglaries are preventable, they can still happen. Having a plan for what to do after a burglary can help you remain calm and resolve the situation quickly.
If a break-in happens at your home, take these steps:
1. Set up your system to notify police when necessary.
If your home was burglarized, call 9-1-1 or your local first responders. Or, even better, make sure your system is equipped to call for help even if you’re not around. After the police are called, don’t enter the house. Burglars could still be on your property.
Alarm.com’s home video security systems have safeguards that can withstand a burglar’s techniques and toolkit, like smash-proof detection. Even if the security control panel installed in your home is destroyed, the system can still signal for help, thanks to our cloud security technology.
2. Don’t touch anything.
Once police arrive, it’s essential to allow them to dust for fingerprints and make note of any evidence that may help them piece the incident together. While it’s natural to panic on what to do after being robbed—remember, it’s important to refrain from touching things as much as possible, including doorknobs, railings, and broken glass.
Alarm.com’s smart locks can give you the option to unlock or lock doors remotely, without making contact with the door. With our security systems, you can also see what time a door was unlocked or broken. You can even use video analytics and Perimeter Guard to get a view of who was there
3. Make a list of what’s missing.
After it’s safe to enter your home, walk through the property and make note of missing or damaged objects. Be descriptive in your list and take photos. Besides expensive items like jewelry and electronics, also check for missing medications, credit cards, electronic files, and paper files like passports or identification cards.
This information is likely helpful for the police as well as your home insurance provider, and could help speed up any insurance claims you make.
If you’re reading this to prepare for a possible break-in, consider creating an inventory of your property to help keep track of items in case the worst occurs. Include descriptions and photos of your belongings, if possible.
4. Review video footage and file reports.
Depending on your situation, you may need to file a police report, contact your home insurance company to make a claim, report a stolen phone to your cell service company, or inform your bank of missing debit or credit cards.
Gather information by asking your neighbors if they saw any unusual activity and reviewing video surveillance footage. With Alarm.com’s 24/7 HD video recording, it’s easy to find clips of important events with secure video streams stored in a searchable library. Video evidence can provide important information for local law enforcement and help you avoid a repeat break-in.
5. Repair your home.
Any windows or doors that were broken during the burglary should be repaired as soon as possible. Police officers who responded to your emergency may also have tips for reinforcing your home’s security and preventing a repeat visit.
If you’re not sure what to do after you’ve been robbed to increase security measures, consider changing the locks on your doors.Alarm.com Smart Locks allow you to eliminate keys, get alerted when you forget to lock up, and stay informed on entries all from the app. Take a close look at each potential point of entry, including windows and sliding doors.
6. Review or upgrade your home security.
Having a reliable home security system can help give you peace of mind. Alarm.com’s professionally installed security systems put your home to work with convenient solutions that keep you and your family safe.
With Alarm.com’s Smart Arming feature, control panel arming and disarming is effortless. Smart Arming can be activated at a set time, like when you go to bed, or when activity is detected by the security system’s sensors.
Alarm.com’s Perimeter Guard can sound an alert and flash the camera’s LED when unwanted visitors are detected or lingering in a specified location. Once it’s set up, it proactively responds to visitors and potential intruders without further action from the homeowner.
Alarm.com combines home video security with AI-powered technology to help you see what’s important and get first responders to your home faster. Now that you know what to do after a home burglary, get the benefits of smart home video surveillance with Alarm.com.
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