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My home was broken into. What am I supposed to do now?'
Each year in the U.S., there are an estimated 2.5 million burglaries. If this has happened to you, you know the fear and anxiety you feel after a break-in.
What should you do in the moments after discovering your home has been broken into or hearing someone come in? Knowing the steps to take in a moment of fear is hard, so it’s important to have a solid plan. If it never does, great news. If it does, you’re a little more prepared.
Let’s dive into what you can do with the help of our sponsor, SimpliSafe.
Here are the steps to take
Leave immediately if you get home and believe someone has burglarized your property. You can’t be sure the home is empty and shouldn’t take chances.
Be sure not to touch anything, and call 911 right away. Go somewhere safe, like a neighbor’s house or lock yourself in your car. Look around for anything suspicious, like a car you don’t recognize or anyone on foot. Take note so you can give this information to the police.
Once the police arrive, it’s time to assess what was taken and any damage. Check for missing electronics, jewelry, medications, collectibles and other valuables. If you have footage of the break-in from home security cameras, great. The police may use this to find the suspects, and you can use it to see what was taken.
After that, it’s time to contact your insurance company and bank. You need to start the process of reporting what was stolen. Your bank can help lock down your accounts in case cards, checks or bills with your account information were taken. You can also freeze your credit.
What if you are home during the break-in? SimpliSafe says the first 30 seconds are crucial. Don’t make any sound; get up and lock the door of the room you’re in. Listen closely, and call 911 immediately. From there, you can try to leave out a window or down a fire escape or stay put. If you leave the room, find your car keys and press the panic button. This could scare the intruder(s) into leaving.
For more steps to take, head to SimpliSafe’s blog.
Protect yourself from future break-ins
When you sign up for SimpliSafe, you’re getting defense against all the curveballs life throws at you. You’ll get protection from any threat, from natural disasters to burglars or violent criminals. SimpliSafe even has a panic button to trigger medical alerts.
Have kids in the family? This app from the FBI could help in an emergency
It’s the holiday season, which means people are traveling to see their loved ones. With all the stress, having peace of mind when you’re away from home can make or break your trip.
There’s one profession that never takes a holiday, and that’s burglary. Crooks take advantage of holidays, and an unoccupied house makes for a prime target. Tap or click here for tips on beefing up your security and reducing your risk of being robbed.
🎮 Next-level rage: A 20-year-old gamer flew from New Jersey to Florida to try to kill another player. He showed up with a hammer after they fought in a game called ArcheAge. He’s been charged with attempted second-degree murder and armed burglary. Remember, someone who really wants to find you generally can because your private info is for sale online.
Security tip: How to choose and install cameras that upload right to the cloud
Picture this: You’re sleeping soundly in your bed one night. Suddenly, shattering glass jerks you awake. If a burglar’s combing through your home and snatching up your valuables, your mind’s probably racing 100 miles per hour.
TikTok intruder: Man caught breaking into woman's home on camera
If there’s one app that’s defined social media for the past few years, it’s TikTok. Originally designed to share karaoke and dancing videos, the app has skyrocketed to success as a fun, short video platform beloved by Millenials and Generation Z.
He chose the psycho path: A 33-year-old Pennsylvania man was busted for burglary and stalking a woman he met online. After she dumped and blocked him, he went full creep, shutting off her power, messing with her internet and slapping a GPS tracker under her car. Cops arrested him, and he’s now being held on a $2 million bail. It’s got to be so scary dating now.
What are the odds? A San Diego woman found out she had three felonies during a routine background check that relies on people-search databases. The charges, dating back to 2014, included burglary, identity theft and possession of a controlled substance. Turns out, she’s innocent. The real culprit shares her exact name and birthday.
Between a rock and a creeper: A family in Southern California found a camera disguised as a rock pointed at their home. Footage showed the scooter-riding culprit planting it — while wearing garden gloves and a motorbike helmet. Theories range from someone casing their house for a burglary (or worse) to someone trying to watch the family’s kids walking home from school. Scary.
Make a home inventory the easy way
Every homeowner dreads coming home to the scene of a burglary. Whether you’ve gone on a two-week vacation or a 15-minute errand, it could happen to anyone.
Your first instinct after calling the police may be to lock your house down like Fort Knox for the rest of your life, but what are you going to do about what was stolen?
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Do you own a second home? It’s pretty common to own a vacation home or rental property. In fact, it’s estimated that nearly 7.5 million Americans do.
With coronavirus (COVID-19) fears and travel restrictions ramping up, you might not be able to take that trip you were planning anytime soon. These are strange times and you might be worried about your other property if you can’t travel there.