THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2023
Suppose that you come home from work one day to find that a break-in has occurred. The thief (or thieves) made a mess of the house. They also made off with quite a few belongings. Of course, your first instinct might be to panic. However, staying calm will help you pick up the pieces and move on from the event. Your homeowners insurance is likely there to help you with the recovery, too. Keep a few tips in mind to make the process easier.
Call the Police
Immediately dial 9-1-1 to report the break-in. Try to avoid touching anything in the house, particularly if you see where the thieves disturbed items. Sometimes, the police will want to dust for fingerprints. Often, it is best to wait outside until the police arrive.
See Where They Came In
If you can see where the thief gained entry to your home, make note of it. Your insurer might tell you to immediately cover broken windows or replace snapped locks. The police can help you determine the entry point if you cannot easily tell.
Document What Was Taken
Carefully make note of the items that are missing. When the police arrive, they will document them on your police report. If you notice additional missing items later, you can call the police and add the items to the report. When you file a home insurance claim, your insurer will likely want a copy of this report. Important items to list include electronics, jewelry, furniture, keepsake and collectible items, and stolen cash.
Check Important Documents
Many thieves attempt to steal victims’ identities, too. They might make off with credit cards, social security information and insurance information. Identity theft could endanger your long-term security and financial credit. Immediately call your financial institutions and local authorities if these items turn up missing. Close the stolen cards and report the identity theft.
Call Your Insurer & Take Pictures
When the police arrive, ask them if they will need to photograph any of the scene. If so, they can take photos of the damage and provide you with copies for insurance verification. If you can provide them with existing photographs of some of the missing items, this can help them in recovery.
Then, call your home insurer. Often, your policy will include structure coverage to pay for damage to the house. It will also offer possessions coverage will pay for the damaged items. In some cases, your insurer won’t compensate you fully for some of these items, since deductibles and exclusions will apply. However, the more thoroughly you document the damage, the better your prospects of receiving full compensation might be.
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