Burglary: Dealing with the Physical, Emotional, and Financial Aftermath
On December 9, 2009 my husband, daughter, and I went about our day like normal. I got up at 6 am and checked my e-mail at the kitchen table and took my daughter to the living room to watch her morning cartoons. This particular morning, the watched The Little Mermaid and Lilo and Stitch. Like clockwork we all left the house at 7:45 am.
The only thing different from today was our being short handed at my work. Two of the ladies up front were out and the office manager was having to cover their spots so I did not take a break and go home like usual. Every day but today I went home at 9:30 am.
Some time between the hours of 8 am and 11 am my home was burglarized. The intruder entered in on the east side of our duplex through a utility room door that they opened with a crow bar. The intruders ransacked our home on their quest to find valuable items. Among the items stolen was our Vizio 37" flat screen television, my purple Dell laptop, my Cowboys fleece blanket, my new boots, Breaking Dawn, and all of our Christmas presents.
My husband came home for lunch at noon like he does most days and went straight to the kitchen. It was not until he went to the living room to watch television that he discovered that we had been burglarized. He called me at work and the police department. Officer Shanna Winthrop with the El Dorado Police Department was the responding officer.
Officer Winthrop took statements, dusted for finger prints, and apologized. She was able to lift prints from the side door, a DVD that was moved from the entertainment center, and a snowman figurine that had been moved. The prints were attached to a copy of the incident report and it was forwarded to the detectives for further investigation.
I called the landlord and they sent someone over to fix the door. My husband and I had discussed getting renters insurance but hadn't done the follow up call with our insurance agent to complete the policy. All in all we lost approximately $2,200 worth of property but the emotional impact of this burglary is far greater than that.
My husband and I both went back to work, we didn't feel like staying there and I didn't feel safe. My home had been entered by a stranger. They went in my bedroom, through my drawers and closet, into my daughters room, my dining room, my bathrooms and my living room. They knocked my things over and threw my things on the floor. They probably even looked at my family pictures. Last night someone covered up with my blanket and today they are wearing my boots. I feel violated beyond belief but he most important thing is that no one was home when it happened.
Last night as I laid in my bed I couldn't help but envision the intruder going through my things. I felt as if I needed to bleach everything in my home. The worst part of all is that I have no idea of who did it. Every time I slip into thinking about it I see a different face. I could wash away the fingerprint dust and I can wash everything that they touched but I cannot erase my knowing that someone was in my home.
There is no guide book given to you by officers when you are burglarized. They don't tell you how to deal with the flood of emotions or even how to make you home safer. Below are some suggestions.
Get Insurance
Having insurance won't bring back the things that were stolen but it can replace them.
Immediately Call the Police
If you come home and find that you have been burglarized to your best to not touch anything so that the officers can get fingerprints.
Call a Friend or Family
The emotional toll of cleaning up after a burglary is devastating. Call a friend or family to come over and at least keep you company. This isn't a time that you should be alone. You might want to stay with a friend or family member for a couple of days until you feel like going back home.
Call Your Financial Institutions
Call your bank and credit card companies and let them know that you have been robbed. If any of your personal information was taken you will need to keep a check on your credit report
Call a Carpenter
As soon as possible get the door or window in which the burglar entered fixed. It also might make you feel a bit more secure if you have all of the locks changed and for added security purchase additional locks.
Make a List
It is possible that you will find more things missing as you clean your home. As you are able to go through things be sure to make a complete list of everything that was missing with a description of the items and price and or serial numbers. Be sure to give a copy of the complete list to the police department.
Pawn Shops
As soon as you have a complete list of the things taken and their description and/or serial numbers take it to all of the area pawn shops. Call and/or drop by regularly to see if your stolen property turns up.
Security
Consider installing a home security system and additional locks on your doors and windows. This will help you feel safer and prevent it from happening again.
Published by Britney Hornaday Boroughs
I am a mother, wife, sister, daughter, and a Sigma Sigma Sigma. I recently graduated the University of Arkansas at Monticello and I hold an Associate of Arts and a Bachelor of Arts in History and Political... View profile
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10 Comments
Post a CommentOur family home was burglarized two days before Christmas (2011), I just saw that the thieves are still trying to get into my email (with my computer that they stole), they have already gone on a shopping spree with my credit cards and the police and everyone else just are not helping. Centurylink, our internet provider says they can provide info as can the credit card companies but everyone is at a stand still due to "paperwork". It's been close to a month now and I still have am dealing with finding more missing stuff and dealing with identity theft everyday....I've lost so many things that were sentimental from my father who passed in 1995 and things I saved from my first son when he was a baby (he's 11 now). They took their time in our home and had to have seen all the photos of our family and our kids....yet, they had no problem going through each of my children's rooms and going through their stuff and stealing all their presents. How is it fair that these thieves have all our information (social security numbers, birth dates, names of all of us, know where we live, even drove our car), yet I can't get anyone to provide me ANY information whatsoever?!?!? There's got to be people out there who can help and say screw the lacking work of law enforcement and help people like us who are hardworking and try to do our best to live by the rules. If anyone knows of anyone who can help...I'd appreciate it!
Just 6 hours ago, I discovered that I had my apartment broken into.
They stole about $500 worth of DVDs and such. However, the most traumatic part is that they went into my room and stole all of my dress clothes, including my brand new suit. About $600 worth right there.
Ironically timed, I'll be having job interviews lined up for possible accounting positions, but all with no nice clothes....I'm just in so much pain right now. Paranoia has really settled in, and it's horrible.
Yes, thank you for posting thoughts and advice on your experience. I just had my apartment broken into and burglarized just two nights ago. No one ever told me the emotional and psychological damage it does to you and I also really appreciate tips for what to do now that mybelongings have been taken.
I'm glad that some of your things were recovered. Hopefully the computer will be found.
I wish I read this a week ago, but a week ago I had not been broken into. I'm sorry for you and know exactly how you feel because it happened to me. I didn't realize the house had been broken into so I closed the kitchen window even though I knew I had not left it open. This was their exit route. I closed the bathroom window which was the entrance route. I'd left a gardening spreader outside and someone had stood on that and pried open my bathroom window. The police took fingerprints but I made a huge mess trying to clean up the fingerprint dust. You can't get it wet, it should be wiped up. Making matters worse, my husband is out of the country until 12/23. Luckily I'm a last minute Christmas shopper and had not purchased anything. I took my laptop to work with me too. It feels terrible because I think it's a neighborhood person. I don't think someone from outside the neighborhood would risk it.
I wish I read this a week ago, but a week ago I had not been broken into. I'm sorry for you and know exactly how you feel because it happened to me. I didn't realize the house had been broken into so I closed the kitchen window even though I knew I had not left it open. This was their exit route. I closed the bathroom window which was the entrance route. I'd left a gardening spreader outside and someone had stood on that and pried open my bathroom window. The police took fingerprints but I made a huge mess trying to clean up the fingerprint dust. You can't get it wet, it should be wiped up. Making matters worse, my husband is out of the country until 12/23. Luckily I'm a last minute Christmas shopper and had not purchased anything. I took my laptop to work with me too. It feels terrible because I think it's a neighborhood person. I don't think someone from outside the neighborhood would risk it.
I feel your pain, I had a similar experience many years ago. You offer great tips and advice, and wish you well. Sorry that had to happen to you.
Thanks for turning your particularly difficult life experience into a lesson for the rest of us. I'm sorry your home was violated. Here's hoping they catch the thief (or thieves) and return your belongings.
How horrible for you all. I'm so sorry you were the victim of burglary. I love how you turned it into a learning experience and now you are helping others by writing about it and providing tips on prevention.
I'm so sorry this happened to you :(