What to do and document after a burglary at home, step by step

You get home and something is off: the door forced, drawers open, that cold feeling that someone has been inside. After the shock and the anger comes the practical part, and it matters to do it well: what you do in the first hours makes the difference when it comes to claiming on your insurance and to the police being able to act.

This guide tells you, calmly, what to do after a burglary at home and, above all, how to document it so your claim arrives with proof and not memories. Step by step.

One note: the exact deadlines and requirements depend on your policy and your insurer; here's the general guidance, but always check your terms.

The first 24 hours after a burglary

So you don't get lost in the nerves, this is the sequence over time:

• First 2 hours — Make sure no one is still inside and call the police. As hard as it is, don't touch or tidy anything.
• The first day — File the police report, photograph the damage and what's missing, and notify your insurer.
• The following days — Prepare the list of stolen belongings with their documentation and follow up on the claim.

What to do after a burglary: the first steps

1. Don't touch or tidy anything yet. As hard as it is, preserve the scene as it is until the police tell you otherwise; there may be prints or clues.
2. Call the police. If the burglar might still be inside, wait outside in a safe place.
3. File the police report. It's the document that evidences the event and the list of stolen items; almost all insurers require it to pay out.
4. Notify your insurer as soon as possible, within the period your policy sets.
5. Document the damage and what's stolen with photos before repairing or replacing anything.
6. Don't repair or throw away anything damaged until the loss adjuster has seen it, if your company is sending one.

The more orderly and complete your documentation, the faster and fairer the resolution.

What documentation your insurer usually asks for after a burglary

Each policy has its conditions, but to claim it's usual to be asked for: the police report; photographs of the damage and the stolen belongings; a list or inventory of what was stolen, with its value; invoices or receipts where they exist; warranties or manuals that evidence brand and age; and repair quotes if there's material damage to fix. Having an inventory done in advance solves the most laborious parts at once: the list of belongings, the photos and the value. If you don't have it yet, here's how to make a home inventory for insurance.

Carlos learned it the hard way: he was burgled and had a few loose photos of his things, but no organised list. Gathering what was missing, with what value and what proof, took him several days of added stress. With a prior inventory, he'd have exported the list and claimed the same day.

And if I have no invoice for what was stolen?

It's very common and doesn't leave you without options. You can rely on dated photographs, warranties, manuals, bank statements and, above all, a prior inventory. It's precisely the pieces that are hardest to evidence —jewellery, electronics, bikes, collections— that are worth documenting in advance.

How to document what was stolen to claim

The insurer will ask for a list of stolen belongings and proof they existed (the famous pre-existence). For each item, try to provide a description, its indicative value and any prior proof —dated photographs, invoices, warranties.

This is where having the work done in advance shows. With SmartInventory AI you can have that inventory ready beforehand: you photograph your belongings and the AI builds the card with description, condition, indicative value and date. When something happens, you export and claim with proof.

Common mistakes after a burglary

• Tidying the house before the report and the adjuster. You erase proof that's in your interest.
• Replacing what was stolen before documenting it. Without the prior list, the claim gets complicated.
• Notifying the insurer late. Outside the period, you can lose cover.
• Claiming from memory. You forget belongings and underestimate their value, almost always in the insurer's favour.
• Not keeping a copy of the report and the photos. They're the basis of the whole claim.

How to arrive prepared for something no one wants to happen

No one wants to imagine a burglary, but the difference between a smooth claim and weeks of paperwork comes down to one thing: having documented what you own before it happens. It's not being pessimistic; it's the same logic as having a fire extinguisher at home.

You can prepare it for free with the Explorer plan of SmartInventory AI: document your highest-value objects and have your inventory ready to export. And if you want an orderly document for your company, you can generate an Asset Report ready for your insurer. When a burglary happens there's no time to rebuild memories: prepare it beforehand. Your assets, documented and protected, ready for any claim.

Frequently asked questions

Is the police report compulsory to claim on insurance after a burglary? In practice, almost all insurers require the police report as the document that evidences the burglary and the stolen belongings. File it as soon as possible and keep a copy.

How long do I have to report the burglary to my insurer? It depends on your policy. When in doubt, notify immediately and confirm with your company.

Can I start cleaning and repairing before the adjuster comes? If your insurer is sending a loss adjuster, preserve the damage until their visit. Document everything with photos, but don't repair or throw anything away until then.

How do I prove what was stolen if I have no invoices? With dated photographs, warranties, manuals, bank statements and, above all, a prior inventory. The more documentation you gather, the better positioned you'll be to claim.