Have traces assessed first
The police advise calling 112 if you suspect offenders remain nearby. Avoid confrontation. After a home burglary, they ask that damage is not cleared before contact so traces can be assessed. Follow the directions given for your circumstances.
A damaged lock or forced door may need prompt temporary securing. Coordinate this and record what is possible without interfering with investigation. Note who provides the temporary measure and retain the invoice. A new door or substantial improvement is not automatically the same cost as necessary temporary closure.
Create a list that can develop
Check each room for missing belongings once safe and permitted. Record make, model, colour, and existing serial numbers where available. The police emphasize identifying features. Find older photographs and purchase evidence, but do not invent missing numbers or dates.
Separate stolen items from damaged belongings still present. List fixed building damage separately too. A broken cupboard and forced window do not automatically belong under one policy. Inform relevant landlords or owners' associations about their components.
Submit later discoveries with an explanation and correct mistakes openly. The initial list need not become complete within minutes. A traceable addition is better than quantities silently changing between files.
A police report does not decide cover
Keep the reference and available report confirmation. Police investigate the offence; the insurer separately examines wording, insured location, ownership, and amount. A report can therefore matter without guaranteeing payment.
Interpolis recommends product details and available purchase evidence after burglary. Use that organizational approach for your notification. Ask what your handler needs and which secure channel to use. Avoid posting sensitive claim material publicly.
Ask about authorization and specification before restoration. Retain replaced parts only where safe and agreed. Group contacts, quotes, and invoices under the same claim reference. This preserves the sequence even when police, landlord, and insurer each use their own case number. Retain a simple cross-reference between those numbers rather than assuming every organization can see the other records.
