What to Do After a Break-In: The Complete Step-by-Step Recovery Guide

Coming home to find your door forced open and your belongings scattered is one of the most disorienting experiences a homeowner can face. The emotional impact - violation, fear, anger - makes it hard to think clearly about the practical steps you need to take. This guide walks you through the critical actions in order, from the first moments through full recovery.

Immediately: The First 30 Minutes

Do NOT enter the home. If you arrive and see signs of a break-in (forced door, broken window, items out of place), do not go inside. The intruder may still be present. Call 911 from outside or from a neighbor's home. Wait for police to arrive and clear the property before entering.

If you're already inside and discover the break-in, leave immediately. Don't touch anything, don't try to assess what's missing, don't clean up. Every surface the burglar touched is potential evidence. Go to a neighbor's home or your car and call 911.

Call 911 and request officers to your location. Even if the burglar is clearly gone, you need a police report. This is required for insurance claims and creates an official record that helps police track crime patterns in your area. When officers arrive, walk through the home with them and point out damage and obvious missing items.

First 24 Hours: Documentation

Get the police report number. Ask the responding officers for the report number before they leave. You'll need this for insurance, for any items that surface in pawn shops, and for follow-up with investigators. If officers can't provide it on scene, ask when and how to obtain it.

Document everything with photos and video. Before touching or cleaning anything, photograph every room - damaged entry points, ransacked areas, empty spaces where items were stolen, and any items the burglar left behind or moved. Take wide shots and close-ups. This documentation is critical for your insurance claim and for police investigators.

Create a detailed inventory of stolen items. List every stolen item with: description, brand and model, approximate purchase date, original purchase price, estimated current value, and serial numbers if available. Check old emails for purchase receipts, credit card statements for transaction records, and photos on your phone that might show stolen items in the background. The more documentation you have, the smoother your insurance claim will be.

Call your insurance company. Report the claim as soon as possible - most policies require reporting within a specific timeframe. Provide the police report number, your item inventory, and all photos. Ask about: your deductible amount, coverage limits for specific categories (jewelry, electronics, and art often have sub-limits), whether you need repair estimates for damaged doors/windows, and the timeline for claim processing.

First 48 Hours: Immediate Security

Secure the entry point. If a door or window was damaged, it needs immediate repair or temporary securing. A forced door may need a new door frame, deadbolt, and strike plate - the strike plate is usually the failure point, not the lock itself. For temporary security, a locksmith can install a new deadbolt same-day, or board up a broken window until permanent replacement.

Change all locks. Even if the burglar entered through a window, change your locks. If they had access to your home, they may have found spare keys, copied existing keys, or unlocked doors from inside for future access. The cost of rekeying all locks ($100-$200) is trivial compared to the cost of a repeat burglary.

Install or upgrade your security system. Remember that statistic: 50% of burglarized homes are hit again within 4 weeks. Burglars return because they know the layout, they know you'll replace stolen items with insurance money, and they know there was no security system to stop them the first time. A monitored security system with visible cameras and signage is the single most effective deterrent against a repeat break-in.

The Emotional Recovery

The financial and physical recovery is straightforward compared to the emotional impact. It's completely normal to feel unsafe in your own home for weeks or months after a break-in. Sleep disruption, hypervigilance about sounds, anxiety about leaving the house, and anger are all common responses.

Talk about it. Don't minimize the experience. Discuss your feelings with family, friends, or a professional counselor. Many people find that the sense of violation is harder to process than the financial loss.

Take back control through action. Many burglary victims report that installing a security system, upgrading locks, adding outdoor lighting, and improving landscaping visibility helped them feel safe again. The act of hardening your home's security is therapeutic because it replaces helplessness with agency.

Know that it gets better. The acute anxiety typically fades over 4-8 weeks as new security measures become familiar and the home starts feeling safe again. If anxiety persists or worsens after 2-3 months, consider speaking with a professional - post-traumatic stress following a break-in is real and treatable.