What to Do After a Burglary: The Complete UK Step-by-Step Guide

What to Do After a Burglary: The Complete UK Step-by-Step Guide

Coming home to find a door forced open or a window smashed can be distressing and disorienting. This guide separates immediate safety, police evidence, insurer instructions and temporary security so each decision can follow the actual circumstances.

But right now, you need to act. This guide walks you through exactly what to do, step by step, so you can protect yourself, preserve evidence, and start putting things right.

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Step 1: Do Not Touch Anything

I know the instinct is to rush inside and check what is missing. Please resist it.

If you arrive home and see signs of a break-in — a forced door, a smashed window, things out of place — do not go inside. The burglar could still be in the property. Even if you are sure they have gone, every surface you touch, every door you open, and every drawer you rummage through is potential evidence destroyed.

Go to a neighbour's house or sit in your car. Take a breath. Then make the calls.

Step 2: Call the Police

If you believe the burglary is still in progress — you can hear someone inside, or you have just seen someone leaving — call 999 immediately. Do not confront them. Get somewhere safe and call.

If the burglary has already happened and the intruder is gone, report it through 101 or the police's online reporting route. The police will decide whether and how to attend based on the circumstances and available evidence; do not promise yourself a particular response time.

Record the crime reference number the police provide. Your insurer may ask for it, so write it down and keep it safe.

Step 3: Do Not Clean Up Until Police Have Attended

I know it feels wrong to leave your home in a mess, but the police may want to recover fingerprints, DNA or other evidence. Follow the Police.uk forensic-evidence guidance: avoid disturbed areas, smooth surfaces and likely points of entry, and ask the police what you can safely move.

If there is broken glass or the property is not secure, tell the police this when you call — they may prioritise attendance or advise you on what you can safely touch.

Step 4: Get Emergency Boarding Up If Needed

If a door has been forced or a window smashed, temporary boarding or another suitable repair may be needed to reduce further intrusion and weather exposure. Ask the insurer what emergency work and evidence its written terms require; boarding does not guarantee a claim outcome.

I offer emergency boarding up in the listed coverage area from £79. The suitable material, fixing method and timing depend on the damaged opening and current availability. Call 024 7522 4730 for the current ETA and scope — I am available 24/7, including evenings and weekends.

Your insurance company may cover boarding up costs, so keep the receipt.

Step 5: Contact Your Insurer as Soon as Possible

Reporting requirements vary. Contact your insurer as soon as possible and follow the deadline and repair instructions in your own policy. Where possible, ask before non-urgent repairs and keep receipts for necessary emergency securing work.

Have the following ready when you call:

Your insurer will explain its claims process and may appoint a loss adjuster. Keep receipts for emergency securing, lock work and replacement items, and follow the evidence instructions it provides.

Step 6: Secure Compromised Locks and Missing Keys

This is critical, and it is the step many people overlook in the chaos.

Burglars frequently take keys they find inside the property. House keys left on a hook by the door, car keys on the kitchen counter, spare keys in a drawer — if they are gone, the burglar can come back any time they like. They also sometimes copy keys and return them, so even if your keys appear untouched, you cannot be certain.

Repair or replace any lock damaged at the point of entry, and change locks for which keys are missing or may have been compromised. An undamaged lock with fully accounted-for keys does not automatically need replacing; assess the actual entry route and key risk first. If a euro cylinder was snapped, this is a sensible time to consider a certified anti-snap replacement through the lock upgrade service.

Each affected external door needs its lock and fitting scope identified. Compatible euro-cylinder replacements start from £59, Yale nightlatches from £69 and BS3621-rated mortice options from £79; multiple openings are itemised. Completion timing depends on compatible-part availability. See the pricing page for the governed scopes.

Step 7: Document Everything for Insurance

Once the police have finished, go through every room methodically and list everything that is missing or damaged. Take photographs of:

For stolen items, note the make, model, serial number if you have it, and approximate value. Check old emails or retailer order histories for purchase evidence, then provide the information your insurer requests.

Step 8: Consider Security Upgrades

A burglary is traumatic. Once urgent repairs and evidence preservation are handled, possible property-specific upgrades include:

I can assess your home security and recommend specific upgrades based on how the burglary happened. Call me on 024 7522 4730 or visit the emergency lockout service page for more information.

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A Note on How You Are Feeling

I want to say something that is not in most guides like this. A burglary is not just a property crime — it is a violation of your personal space. Many people feel unsafe in their own home for weeks or months afterwards. Some feel angry, some feel anxious, some feel violated. All of those feelings are valid.

Victim Support offers free, confidential help to anyone affected by crime in the UK. You do not need to have reported the crime to the police to use the service. Call them on 0808 168 9111 or visit victimsupport.org.uk.

Changing the locks and upgrading security genuinely helps many people feel safer again. It is a practical step that gives you back some control. If you want to talk through your options, call me on 024 7522 4730 — I am happy to chat even if you are not ready to book anything yet.

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Common Mistakes After a Burglary

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What to Expect From the Police in Coventry

West Midlands Police decides the response to each report. Depending on the circumstances, an officer or forensic practitioner may attend, or the police may provide other instructions for recording evidence and progressing the report.

Reporting remains important because evidence may link offences and your insurer may ask for the police reference. Keep expectations evidence-based and use the contact route the police provide for updates.

You can check the progress of your case using the contact details and crime reference number supplied by the police.

Authoritative Sources