A calm first-hour and first-day checklist covering safety, evidence, police reporting, insurers, accounts and securing the property afterwards.
If an intruder may still be inside, do not enter or confront them. Move to a safe place and call the emergency number for your country. If anyone is injured or in immediate danger, request emergency assistance.
The first hour
1. Stay safeDo not touch doors, windows, objects or possible entry points unnecessarily. Keep children and pets away from the scene.
2. Report itContact police using the emergency route if danger remains; otherwise use the appropriate local non-emergency route. Record the incident or reference number.
3. Preserve evidenceWait for police instructions before cleaning, repairing or extensively photographing disturbed areas. Save camera, doorbell and alarm footage without editing the original.
4. Record lossesStart a list of missing and damaged items, serial numbers, receipts, photographs and identifying marks. Add newly discovered losses to the police report.
5. Notify relevant organisationsContact the insurer promptly. Freeze stolen cards and devices, change exposed account credentials and tell finance providers if documents or identity information were taken.
6. Secure after clearanceOnce police say the scene can be disturbed, arrange temporary boarding, lock changes and urgent repairs. Do not discard damaged parts until the insurer confirms what it needs.
Country-specific reporting routes
United Kingdom
Call 999 if a crime is happening, an intruder may still be present or anyone is in immediate danger. Otherwise use your police force’s non-emergency reporting route or 101. Follow the attending officer’s instructions before disturbing the scene.
Call 911 for an active crime, immediate danger or injury. For a discovered burglary with no immediate threat, contact the local police department using its published non-emergency or online-reporting route. Procedures, alarm permits and victim services vary by state and locality.
Canada
Call 911 for immediate danger or an active crime. Otherwise contact the police service responsible for the address through its non-emergency route. Ask how to add later-discovered property and obtain the occurrence or report number needed by relevant organisations.
Call Triple Zero (000) for an active crime, immediate danger or injury. Otherwise use the non-emergency reporting method published by the police service for your state or territory. Do not assume one state’s online form or assistance number applies nationwide.
Call 999 or 112 if intruders may still be present or there is immediate danger. Otherwise report the burglary to the local Garda station straightaway. Garda guidance states that home or business burglary should not be submitted through the general online crime-declaration facility.
This is general information, not emergency, legal or insurance advice. Follow instructions from police, emergency services and your insurer. Do not publicly share footage that could identify victims, compromise an investigation or create privacy risks.
