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Preparing for the Aftermath of a Home Break-In

Preparing for the Aftermath of a Home Break-In

Despite the precautions and preventative measures available to help protect yourself and your home from burglary or robbery (including installing a monitored home security system, investing in high-quality locks for doors and windows, and installing solid doors and doorframes), you should never take for granted the possibility that you can be the victim of such a crime.

There are, however, some simple steps you can take to make the aftermath of a burglary or robbery less devastating.

If you discover your home has been broken into

Perhaps you return home one day or night to find a door ajar, a window broken, or something else out of the ordinary. You should leave the area immediately and go to a neighbor's house or another secure location and wait until the police arrive..

Following are some preventative measures that can help minimize the work you'll have to do to recover from a burglary or robbery.

Catalog your valuables

It is a good idea to keep a running list of the things in your home you consider most valuable-whether it's your laptop computer, heirloom jewelry, or anything else of significant monetary or personal value. Having such a list readily available makes it easier to determine and document goods stolen from your residence. It also provides a valuable tool for police in the event that some of your property is tracked down, and it helps insurance companies reimburse you properly for your losses.

On this list, you should note both the description of the property ("laptop," "stereo system," etc.) and also any relevant serial numbers. Serial numbers are like fingerprints for property, so if you don't have a list of serial numbers, it becomes harder to prove the property is definitively yours.

It is also wise to "create" an identifying number for any property that doesn't have its own serial number. Do not use your social security number for this purpose! The Florida Attorney General's office recommends using your driver's license number , but any number that is unique to you and that can be verified through supporting documentation (e.g. your employee number at work) will also work in this capacity. You can then engrave this number into valuables by using an engraving or rotary tool. You should also consider photographing or videotaping the objects on the list to aid any efforts to recover your property.

And while a catalog of your valuables is a helpful tool for law enforcement and insurance companies, it can also be dangerous if you do not keep it in a secure place. If not kept secure, your list of valuables can become a "shopping list" while a burglar searches your house. For this reason, you should never store this list in your house. Keep such a list in a secure, third party location-for example, a safe deposit box.

Get a safe deposit box

A safe deposit box is an excellent security tool-not only for storing a list of valuables, but also for safeguarding valuables or documents you don't necessarily need on a regular basis. If you maintain a videotape or photographs of the listed valuables, keep that in the safe deposit box as well.

Many financial institutions offering safe deposit services also offer a discounted rate to their members, so you should check with your financial institution to see if they offer the service and ask about their pricing system, if applicable.

About the Author Brink's Home Security offers state-of-the-art home security monitoring services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. No matter whether you are home or away, you can help protect your home with one of the most advanced home alarm systems in the world today! Police, fire and medical emergency agencies can be notified and on their way in the event of a home invasion, fire, or medical emergency! Click here to schedule an appointment for your FREE home security system needs analysis, or give us a call now at 1-800-379-9194. A knowledgeable Brink's home security specialist can recommend the home security system ideal for helping protect your family and home.

"How to Prevent a Home Burglary." Florida Attorney General's Office. http://myfloridalegal.com.

Brink's Home Security offers state-of-the-art home security monitoring services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. No matter whether you are home or away, you can help protect your home with one of the most advanced home alarm systems in the world today!

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