Burglary
What is burglary?
A burglary is when someone breaks into, or attempts to break into, a building with the purpose of committing a criminal act, usually theft.
Distraction burglary
Distraction burglary is when offenders trick or dupe an occupant or distract them to gain entrance. They may say they are from a utility company and claim there is an emergency leak or an urgent need to check meters or boilers, or say they need urgent help for a medical issue or a car breakdown and ask to use your phone in order to gain access to the property and commit burglary. They may be working alone or with someone else. Elderly people are particularly vulnerable to this type of burglary.
Burglary can have a significant impact on victims, both financially and emotionally. As well as losing items of value, some of which could be personal or irreplaceable, victims may feel a violation of security and distress that someone unknown has been in their home.
Some people blame themselves, particularly if they forgot to secure a window or door, or if they were tricked into letting someone in their home but it isn't your fault. Children in particular can be very frightened following a burglary and may need reassurance even if they don’t talk much about what has happened.
If you or anyone in your family, including children, need further support following a burglary you can Get Support Now by contacting Victims First. This support can involve emotional support and practical support such as help in completing insurance forms.
You can also download our burglary support leaflet.
- Report the burglary to the police and make a note of the Crime Reference Number. If you have home insurance you will need this number to make a claim.
- Try to get your home secured as quickly as possible. If you’re in rented housing, tell your landlord about any repairs you need.
- Look into ways of making your home more secure for the future. Some security measures can be expensive, but there are other things you can do that cost very little, such as leaving lights or a radio on when you go out and checking that all doors and windows are properly closed and locked. Remember, don't leave valuables on display.
- If important documents have been stolen, you will need to let banks, government departments and other organisations know. Things to check for include bank cards, cheque books, passports, benefit books, mobile phones, birth certificates and driving licences. It’s important to tell banks and building societies as soon as possible so that they can stop fraud and any further theft.
The following advice from police.uk details tips that can make a big difference in keeping your home safe from burglary:
- Lock your doors and windows every time you leave the house, even when you're just in the garden, remembering to double-lock UPVC doors (lift handle and turn key).
- Hide all keys out of sight and away from the letterbox (remember a device could be used to hook keys through the letterbox).
- Install a visible audible burglar alarm and motion-detected outside lighting.
- Don’t leave valuables on display.
- Ensure garages, sheds and other outbuildings are securely locked.
- Install a doorbell with a video camera – these are easier and cheaper to install than a full CCTV system and can act as a deterrent.
- Leave lights or radios on a timer when you're not in the house to make the property appear occupied.
- Ensure side gates are locked and that fencing around the home or garden is in good condition.
- Keep shrubbery, hedges and trees at the front of your home low so there is no cover for a burglar to work unseen whilst maintaining higher boundaries that are difficult to climb over around the back garden (walls, hedges or fences).
- Try and avoid having deliveries made to your house when no one is home so that packages are not left in plain sight and don’t leave packaging from expensive items outside your door.
- If you are away from home for an extended period of time, ask a trusted neighbour to keep an eye on your property and to perhaps park on your drive, cancel newspaper or milk deliveries and only post about your trip on social media if your profile isn’t public and your posts can only be seen by your friends.
- Register your property with Immobilise.com, a free ownership registration service, which can help prevent burglary and increase the chances of stolen items being recovered.
You can find more information about protecting your home from burglary on Thames Valley Police's website.