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. 

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We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

Trivia

Which company was rejected on “Shark Tank” but later sold for $1 billion? Was it … A.) Scrub Daddy, B.) Ring, C.) Fitbit or D.) Roomba?

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