Nobody likes the thought that someone may have intruded on the privacy of your home. Coming home to see your house ransacked or precious items missing is probably one of the least pleasant of life’s experiences. While it may be upsetting at the time, it is important to know what to do. There are several important things that you need to remember to do when you discover that your house has been burgled. Also, use common sense and logic in the situation.
Discovering a Burglary
If you come home and suspect that something is amiss, be careful about entering the premises. The intruders could very well still be there and if you discover or disturb them, they could attack and hurt you. Instead, stay out of sight and call the local police station. If you have a neighborhood watch or area security company, call them as well. Then wait in a safe place for the police to arrive. If you notice suspicious people, take down their details in terms of appearance and characteristic markings. Once the police arrive, identify yourself and tell them why you suspect a burglary. They will probably insist that you stay outside while they inspect the premises. Once it has been established that your home has in fact been robbed, you will need to give a statement to the police. Most often, the police will want you to stay out of the home until they can collect fingerprints or other evidence left behind by the thieves. You will also need to phone your insurance company. The person answering the hotline should be able to inform you of the next steps to follow.
Establishing What Has Been Stolen
Sometimes it is difficult to establish exactly what has been stolen. Most times thieves will go for electronic items such as computers, laptops, DVD players, television screens or microwaves. They may also look for jewelry, watches or any other items of value. If you already have an insurance inventory of valuable items, it will be easier to check what has been stolen. If not, the best way is to go from room to room and write down everything that you notice. It is sometimes helpful to do this with a friend or family member as they might remember items that you don’t recall. Take your time to make you list as you might recall some items over time. In general, you have about a week to submit your claim. The insurance company will often send out an assessor to have a look at what is missing and to asses any structural damage to your home.
Taking Steps to Secure Your Home
Sometimes thieves will have gained access to your home by breaking a window or picking a lock. You may need to change the locks on all your external doors or add extra deadbolts. This is something you should do without delay to ensure that your home is made secure once again. Your insurance should cover the costs of changing or replacing locks. They should also cover the cost of window repairs or any other damage to your home. Sometimes you need to pay for these repairs initially but will be able to claim the costs back from the insurance company. Following a burglary, you may want to install additional security measures in your home. These measures may include additional burglar bars on windows, closed-circuit television cameras, and remote access to your garage or property. Sometimes installing these additional security measures will help prevent your insurance premiums from escalating too much following a claim.
Submitting a Claim to Your Insurance Company
Your insurance company will ask you to submit a claim for the items that were stolen and any damage to your property. Next to each item, you will need to give an estimate of the value of the item. Sometimes items that are sentimental do not really have much of a replacement value. An assessor will generally come out to your home to verify details and ensure that the claim you submit is legitimate. Provide as much detail as possible. If you have makes and models of electronic equipment or the serial numbers on file, this will help the insurance company to replace the lost items with similar models. Most times the insurance company will want to replace exact items but when they cannot, they will replace with items that are as similar as possible.
Real Insurance is a part of the Hollard Group of companies. The Hollard Group has offices in the United States, the UK, South Africa, Australia and throughout South East Asia and provides a wide range of insurance products and services to more than 6 million policyholders worldwide. For more information about Real income insurance, visit us online today!
