After a burglary: a theft claim that actually gets paid
General information, not legal or insurance advice.
The order matters
- Call the police first and file a report — insurers require the police report number for theft claims.
- Don't touch entry points (doors, windows, locks) until police document them.
- Photograph break-in damage — it's covered too, separately from stolen goods.
- Freeze cards and check bank apps if wallets or devices were taken.
- Then call your insurer with the report number and start the claim.
Serial numbers are your superpower
A list of stolen items with serial numbers does two jobs: it satisfies the insurer's documentation demand, and it lets police actually check pawn shops and online marketplaces. "A grey laptop" recovers nothing; "MacBook Pro, serial C02XY..." sometimes does.
Scan serials while you still have the items.
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More: fire claims · water damage