Guide
What to Do After a Burglary: The First Hours, Days and Weeks Ahead
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The First Hour: Start Here
It all starts with whether the person responsible might still be indoors. If that is possible, you need 999; if they have plainly gone and the house is empty, you need 101 or the online report instead. Choosing correctly is the first thing that protects you, the police investigation and any later insurance claim. The five-line list underneath covers everything else in the first hour.
Source: Cheshire Constabulary records published on data.police.uk (OGL v3), Sep 2025 to Aug 2026. Counts are anonymised records mapped inside the Chester built-up area, not a measure of the risk to any one home.
When You Think Someone Is Still Inside
Stay out and dial 999. Do not search the rooms, call out or try to see who it is.
The House Empty, the Burglar Gone
Report it on 101 or online, and write down the crime reference number. It helps to know which rooms were entered and what is obviously missing before you call.
What Not to Do, Before the Police Have Been
Leave the way they came in, and any items they clearly picked up, as you found them. Photographs before anything moves.
What to do in the first hour
- Call the police straight away on 999 or 101.
- Avoid walking through rooms that have been disturbed.
- Write a short list of what has visibly gone.
- Report stolen debit or credit cards to the bank.
- Once police release the house, make it secure.
What You Can Use as Normal, and What the Police Need You to Leave Alone
You can switch the lights on and use door handles normally, keeping clear of the entry point. Police guidance on forensic evidence says so plainly, and it holds whether or not a crime scene investigator has been arranged. Leave the entry point untouched until police allow work; where possible, also avoid touching or cleaning fluids such as blood, footprints, or anything the offender handled. The rest of the house is yours to use tonight.
| Fine to use | Leave untouched until police give permission |
|---|---|
| Switches for lights and sockets | Where they got in: door, pane or frame |
| Handles on internal and external doors away from the entry point | Shoe prints on floors, sills or paper |
| The kitchen and the bathroom | Blood or other fluids |
| Beds, sofas, rooms that were not entered | Things the burglar picked up or emptied |
What You Can Touch, and Use as Normal
A switch or handle that everyone in the house touches is of little forensic value. The surfaces that matter are the ones the intruder touched and you do not.
Until the Police Have Finished, What to Leave Untouched
Leave the entry point, any marks on the ground or on surfaces, and anything clearly handled. If you are unsure whether something was touched, leave it and mention it when the police come.
If You Have To, How to Move Things Safely
Take a photograph of it in place before anything else. Only after police allow movement at the entry point, put on gloves for smooth surfaces, listed in police guidance as plastic, metal, glass and treated wood. A phone camera and household gloves are all you need.
Before the Insurer Has Seen It, Can You Repair the Door?
The short answer is yes, after police permission: photograph the damage before repairing it. Keeping evidence and making the house safe tonight matter, but photographs alone do not authorise work at the entry point. The Association of British Insurers adds the other half, writing that "Your insurance policy will usually cover you for any emergency repairs you make following an incident," though cover always depends on your policy. When you need to board up a damaged door or window, both police permission and photographs must precede the work.
In three steps 1. Photograph: wide shot, close-ups, lock and frame. 2. Secure: with police permission, board, repair or replace what will not lock. 3. Receipt: keep it, and the old lock.
Photographing the Damage Before Anything Is Repaired
Take them before anything is touched and again after any temporary work, so there is a record of before and after. Include a wider shot showing where in the house the door is. The timestamp on each image does a lot of quiet work later.
What Your Policy Covers for Emergency Repairs, Usually
Boarding a broken pane, refitting a forced lock and securing a window that will not shut are the typical emergency repairs. Ask your insurer as soon as reasonably possible what your policy expects, including whether its own contractor must be used.
Keeping the Paperwork Your Insurer Will Ask For
Crime reference number, photographs, receipts and a dated note of every conversation. Hold on to any damaged lock that is replaced: it is physical evidence of forced entry.
Reporting the Burglary: Getting Your Crime Reference Number
When you make a claim, the insurer's opening question is almost always: what is the crime reference number? That number is your proof the burglary was reported to the police, and Neighbourhood Watch recommends noting it for insurance. So the aim of reporting is not just to tell the police; it is to come away with that number recorded somewhere safe, along with the date you reported.
Online, 999 or 101: Which Route Applies
999 is for a burglary in progress or a suspect still at the property. 101 is for one that is over. The online report covers the same ground as 101, and police guidance says it is processed by the control room exactly as a phone report would be. If a police station near you has a public counter, that is another way in.
What Happens After Reporting It
Every report goes through an assessment. The police weigh the vulnerability of the victim, the seriousness of the crime, the likelihood of solving it and the best use of resources. Then they contact you. If they are unable to investigate, they explain why. If they investigate, an investigating officer is assigned and will keep you updated. A crime scene investigator may also visit, decided case by case. Keep every name and date with your reference number.
Making Your Home Secure Again
The goal is a door and window that lock properly tonight, and a house whose keys are all accounted for. Those are two separate jobs that tend to get run together: repairing the damage, and restoring control over who holds a working key. Both matter, and the second is the one most often skipped. There is more on what burglary damage repairs involve on a separate page.
Why Changing the Locks Matters More Than the Damaged Door
A repaired door with the original cylinder still in it looks secure without being secure. Ask two questions: is the door mechanically sound, and does anyone else hold a key that works? On most uPVC and composite doors the euro cylinder can be changed on its own, without replacing the multipoint mechanism. Read more about how locksmiths.
Who Else Holds a Spare Key, and Missing Spare Keys
Count every key for every external door and check that each can be physically produced today. A burglary where nothing seems to be gone but a spare key is missing is exactly when a lock change is most justified. Keys tend to sit on a hook by the door, in a hall drawer, in a coat pocket or in a key safe.
If You Rent, Tell Your Landlord or Housing Provider
Tell them as soon as the police have been told. Landlords are normally responsible for external doors, windows and locks; your contents insurance covers your belongings. Get the landlord's agreement in writing before any lock is changed.
Your Rights as a Victim Under the Victims' Code
If you have reported a burglary in England and Wales, you already hold twelve rights under the Victims' Code. They apply from the moment of reporting and are summarised by Victim Support. You will not need most of them. A few, though, are directly useful after a break-in, and naming them gives you a specific entitlement to point to when something is not happening.
The Rights That Matter Most Right Now
- Recording without unjustified delay means your report should be logged promptly.
- Information on reporting covers your crime reference number and what comes next.
- Referral to support services is the right most people never hear about.
- Information about the investigation lets you ask for news without apologising.
- The right to complain applies when any of the above has not been met.
There is also the Victims' Right to Review, which allows certain decisions not to proceed with a case to be reconsidered.
Being Referred to Victim Support
You have two routes: ask the police to refer you, or contact Victim Support yourself. The service is free and does not depend on the police, which some people prefer. It helps emotionally and practically, including with insurance forms, and in some areas with making a property secure. Its website carries up-to-date contact details.
Your Insurance Claim: What to Expect and What to Gather
Three things carry a burglary claim: your crime reference number, a list of what was taken, and evidence of value. The claim itself is mostly a matter of documents, and how well the list is put together decides how it goes. Before you start, look at your policy schedule to see whether the damage falls under buildings or contents cover, and what excess applies.
Building Up the List of What Was Taken
Recall is unreliable after a burglary, so walk each room in turn. Note what the item is, its make and model, its age and any serial number. Then look for proof of ownership you already have: card and bank statements, order histories, warranty registrations, and photos that happen to show the item. Keep adding for a couple of weeks as gaps turn up.
A Loss Adjuster: What They Are Looking For
The title sounds daunting, but on a household claim a loss adjuster is mostly checking documents for the insurer. A visit may or may not happen. They will want the police report details, evidence of how entry happened, the inventory and proof of ownership. If your policy mentions lock conditions, read that section before any conversation.
Compensation: What the Criminal Injuries Scheme Does and Does Not Cover
Despite what some guides suggest, it covers injury rather than stolen belongings. A householder who was present and injured may qualify, provided the crime was reported to the police first; time limits apply, set out on GOV.UK.
In the Weeks After: Feeling Settled at Home Again
It is ordinary for the house to take longer to feel normal than the practical jobs take to finish. The lock gets changed and the claim goes in, and the rest follows in its own time; that is not a sign of anything. Below is what is available if you want it, and some practical changes around the house that help it feel settled, written without pressure in either direction.
Support Available to You and How to Get It
Anyone affected by a burglary can contact Victim Support, regardless of what was taken or whether anyone was harmed. Other household members, including children, can be part of it. The call does not have to be about feelings; asking for help with paperwork is a common way in. Independent Age is available for older readers, and a GP is another option.
Practical Changes to Help a House Feel Settled
Focus on the doors, windows and keys rather than new equipment. Replacing a forced lock removes a reminder that a repair leaves behind. Checking each external door and window lock catches the one that quietly stopped being used. Accounting for every key closes a loose end. There is no schedule for this. For more on lock standards, read which door locks meet insurance requirements and the anti-snap cylinders guide.
Getting Your Home Secure, in Chester
Three jobs make a house secure after a break-in: boarding the damaged door or window, repairing or replacing the forced lock, and changing cylinders where a key is unaccounted for. Safe Locksmiths Chester takes calls for all three around the clock, all year, including nights, weekends and bank holidays. Each engineer holds a DBS check. You pay for the work carried out, any parts needed, and VAT. Rates outside Monday to Friday, 7am to 6pm, are higher, but the call-out itself is never charged. The price for the job is given over the phone, based on what you tell us.
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How an emergency locksmith call-out works is covered separately; when you are ready, talk to a Chester locksmith.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to report a burglary to the police?
In practice, reporting the burglary is usually part of making a theft claim. The insurer may want evidence in the form of a police report. Expect the crime reference number to be requested too, often before much else is discussed about the claim.
Can I clean up after a burglary?
You can clean the entry point once the police say work may begin. Until then, leave it untouched, including its door handles. Everyday use of the other rooms can continue when it is safe to be inside.
Should I change my locks after a burglary?
Yes, if you cannot account for every key. Repairing the door does not prevent a missing key from operating the existing cylinder. Someone holding a key taken during the burglary could still unlock it, so a qualified locksmith can change the lock as part of securing the door.
Will my insurance pay for the emergency door repair?
Usually it will, although your policy decides the position in your case. The Association of British Insurers gives that general indication for emergency door repairs. Cover varies between insurers and with the protection chosen, so confirm what your particular insurance includes for this work.
How do I find someone trustworthy to make the house secure?
Look for a locksmith who explains the charge during the phone call. Any change should be made clear before the work begins. Ask how out-of-hours charging works as well. Straightforward information on all three points gives you something concrete to assess when choosing a business.
Can I claim criminal injuries compensation for stolen property?
No, theft of your possessions does not qualify for criminal injuries compensation. Belongings taken during a break-in cannot be claimed for under that scheme. For the property loss described in the question, this is not an available route to a compensation payment.
I rent my home. Who pays for the broken door and lock?
The usual split is that the landlord covers external doors, windows and locks, while your contents insurance covers belongings. A damaged outside door or broken lock therefore normally falls to the landlord. Personal possessions inside the property sit on the contents insurance side of that split.
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