One of the most traumatizing things that can happen to a family is coming home and discovering that their house has been burglarized. If this occurs, you need to take the proper steps afterward to protect your family. Below are seven steps everyone should take after suffering a home robbery.
1. Leave Your Home Immediately
The first thing you should do after discovering a burglary is gathering up your family and leaving immediately. Sometimes homeowners come home while the burglary is still in progress. While it may seem the criminals have left, they may simply be hiding.
2. Call 911
Next, use your cell phone and dial 911. Tell the operator what happened. The police will be dispatched to your house. Don’t be afraid to call 911 or the police no matter what the situation is even if you aren’t sure anything was stolen.
3. Wait in a Safe Place
You need to wait in a place away from your home until the police arrive. It should be somewhere far enough away that the robber would not notice you. A neighbor’s house far down the street or a nearby business are good choices. Wait until the police tell you it is safe to come home.
4. Don’t Disturb the Crime Scene
When you come back, make sure you don’t interrupt the crime scene by touching or moving anything. Make sure the police have collected their evidence first. Finger prints can be easily wiped away. Similarly, dirty floors could provide shoe prints for investigators, and the layout of moved items could help them piece together what happened.
5. Get a Babysitter
Robberies can be very traumatizing events for children. To save them from a very scary experience, call up their grandparents or someone else you trust to watch them for a day or two.
6. Take Inventory
When it’s safe to touch things again, check to see what was stolen. Create a list and add each item in your home that is missing. If you can, add the dollar value next to these items and try to track down receipts.
7. Hire an Attorney
According to Tad Nelson, a Houston attorney, having your home robbed can be very emotionally stressful. You will want to contact an attorney as soon as they can help you with your legal options and the emotional stress of having your home broken into.
Discovering that your home has been burglarized can be scary and infuriating. However, if you take the right steps afterwards, you can protect your family from further harm.
