What to do after a home burglary

September 26 2025

Burglary is more common than a lot of people realise —research shows that a residential break-in occurs roughly every two minutes in England and Wales. If you’ve been unfortunate enough to experience a home burglary, our team of experts have partnered with psychologist Dr Ravi Gill from Smart Mind Health to share advice on how to recover from this type of crime.

Get in touch with our friendly team to discuss the ideal setup for your needs.

Right after the burglary

Don’t touch anything

Jake Beecroft, General Manager at ADT UK&I Subscriber said: “If you come home to find you’ve been burgled, a million thoughts will race through your head, but stop, take a breath, and take these immediate actions.

“After a break in, it’s tempting to try and ‘fix’ things or tidy up, but it’s important to avoid disturbing the scene of the burglary. Touching items or moving your belongings around could destroy crucial evidence, such as fingerprints or footprints, that the police can use to identify the culprit.”

Call the police

“It’s important to contact the police immediately on 101 (or 999 if it has just happened or is ongoing) and provide them with all the details you have. The quicker you report the crime, the faster officers can start their investigation. You’ll be issued with a crime reference number for insurance purposes.

“Our monitoring plans make sure any unexpected activity in your property is detected quickly. Police Response makes use of ECHO technology to enable the police to respond more quickly, giving you peace of mind."

Take photos and review your footage

“Photos and videos can be used to supply evidence of any damage you have suffered to your insurance company. Footage could also be vital to the police case, so it’s worth asking your neighbours if they have any CCTV footage of the burglar on the way to, or from, your home.”

Make a list of stolen goods

“Taking care not to disturb the crime scene, check for any missing items and make a list, including approximate values if possible. Check for any receipts you might have saved, or photos for proof of ownership; it may feel like a long process, but it’s an important step."

Contact your insurance company

“Once you’ve completed all the above steps, it’s time to inform your home insurer about the burglary. Provide your crime reference number, list of stolen items, and any supporting evidence like photos or receipts. By doing this immediately, you get on the road to recovering the cost of your possessions and even some of the damage caused by the intruder."

Change your locks

“If you were burgled because your keys were stolen, replace your locks immediately to prevent further unauthorized access; this will also help give you peace of mind that your home is secure. Consider upgrading your front door security with a smart video doorbell.”

Cancel your cards

“If you notice that items like bank cards or sensitive documents have been stolen, contact your provider to cancel them immediately. This step helps protect against potential financial fraud that could cause you further stress down the line."

Secure your home

“Cleaning up is one thing, securing your home is another entirely. You’ll know the point of entry by now, so that is your first port of call. If it was a window, you should review and make changes to any others with a similar structure. With doors, you can make them harder to break through with alarms and CCTV cameras.”

Psychologist support

The aftereffects of a burglary can often extend beyond property damage and stolen items. Dr Ravi Gill explores how this can impact the people involved:

Dr Ravi Gill: “Overcoming the impact of a burglary takes time, and recovery often involves addressing both the practical and emotional effects. A key first step is restoring a sense of safety. This might include strengthening home security, checking locks, or creating new routines that provide reassurance; feeling more in control of the environment can reduce ongoing fear.”

Processing the emotional impact

“It’s important to acknowledge the emotional impact. Talking to trusted friends, family, or a professional can help process feelings of fear, anger, or violation, rather than keeping them bottled up.”

Long term effects

“Self-care strategies, such as relaxation exercises, mindfulness, and re-establishing daily routines, support the nervous system in calming down. We find some comfort and ‘normality’ in our usual routines so going back to them can be helpful. For some, creative outlets like writing, art, or movement can help release emotions in safe ways.

“If distress remains high - for example, with persistent nightmares, hypervigilance, or avoidance - professional support may be valuable. Trauma-focused therapies such as CBT or EMDR can help individuals process the event and rebuild a sense of safety and trust.”

Protecting your home for the future

Jake Beecroft, General Manager at ADT UK&I Subscriber, said: “Home burglaries can have a traumatic effect on all involved, so putting precautions in place to protect those you love is crucial in both deterring criminals, and giving you peace of mind. Luckily, there are a number of quick and essential things you can put in place to protect your home.”

Secure windows and doors

“Keeping your windows and doors locked, even when you’re at home, will help to deter potential criminals. When you’re leaving home for work or holiday, make sure windows are properly closed and external doors are secure.”

Protect garages and sheds

“If your garage leads into your home, double check that these doors are locked whenever possible, both when you’re at home and when you are out of the house. If you can, park your car in front of the garage door to help block access to unwanted guests. If your outdoor space has a shed, make sure it is locked with a strong padlock when not in use, especially if you use it to house DIY and gardening tools.”

Keep valuables away from windows

“Windows allow for criminals to see straight into your home, so keeping expensive items out of sight is crucial, otherwise they might target your property.”

Invest in home security

If you’re looking to invest in extra home security, outdoor lighting, doorbell cameras and alarms are great additions to add to your property as these can help to deter thieves from trying to enter. Outdoor cameras can further support in securing your home.