Burglary advice pack
Our service to you
We know that burglary can be a very upsetting experience, and even if nothing is stolen most people feel anxious and less secure afterwards.
While the investigation into your burglary continues remember we’re here to help you.
This document provides practical help and advice on:
- How you can access support to help you cope and recover.
- What the Police do when you have been burgled.
- Things you can do to secure your property.
How you can access support
We want to make sure you can access any support and help whenever and however you want. At the end of this document there are some details of organisations and information which can help you.
If you have any concerns about your investigation that you need help with, please contact the Quality of Service team by ringing 101.
How we investigate a burglary
Initial Assessment
- An initial assessment will be conducted to establish whether there are lines of enquiry which will help us solve the crime. We will only contact you if we need to speak to you.
- If there are additional enquiries, you will receive a follow-up call from the officer in charge of your case within five days of the burglary being reported.
- It is the duty of the officer in charge of the case to keep you informed about their progress.
Investigation
- A Crime Scene Investigator may need to look for fingerprints and other signs of an intruder’s presence.
- We will need a list of the property which has been stolen to enable us to conduct enquiries in this area. There are more details about this in the stolen property section below.
- We will pursue reasonable lines of enquiry (which could include house to house enquiries, CCTV, witnesses, property, known offenders, offending patterns etc) and may ask you to assist us in that process.
Contact
- The officer in charge of your case will give you their direct contact details. Please remember officers work shifts and may not be able to respond straight away. You can contact the investigating officer by calling 101, by emailing them directly or via the contact section of this website.
- You can also speak to a member of our Quality of Service team between 9.00am and 5.00pm, Monday to Friday by calling 101 who will aim to support any concerns or questions that you may have or make contact with your investigating officer on your behalf.
What you should do now
As soon as you are aware that you have been the victim of a burglary and/or your property has been stolen:
- Contact your bank/building society/credit card company immediately to cancel any cards you think may be missing. Ask them whether the card has been used or if there has been an attempt to use your card. The bank will be able to provide the time and location. Please tell us about this.
- Contact your insurers.
- Contact your mobile phone service provider if your phone has been stolen.
- Please tell us if you have any tracking software installed on your electrical device.
Re-secure your home
- Please speak to us before clearing up or repairing any damage caused by the intruder or attempting to re-secure your home as this may compromise any forensic examination.
- Consider if the intruder may have taken any spare keys (including any car keys) which may mean you need to change locks.
- More information in our advice and information section.
Register your property
Immobilise is the UK’s national property register, with a database used by police forces to trace owners of lost/recovered stolen property. You can register the serial numbers of your valuables by creating an account using their secure website:
Registering will mean that if the police recover your property, they can quickly identify you as the rightful owner. The second hand trade also check this website when people come in to sell items.
Stolen property form
In order for us to carry out enquiries about your stolen property, we need you to complete a stolen property form and return this by email to the officer in the case (who will contact you separately).
Sometimes you may realise items have been stolen later on, if this is the case, it is important that you provide us with details of any additional items as soon as you can.
Describing your property
The description of an item should include any information that might help to identify and recover the property.
Guidance notes
- When completing the form, you should include property already described when first reporting the crime, as well as details of any additional items that you have since discovered have been stolen.
- Please enter as much detail about the item as possible in box A, using one line for each stolen item.
- There are examples shown on the form to guide you.
- The IMEI number for your mobile phone can be obtained from your service provider or from the box your mobile phone came in, if you still have this.
- It is important to provide the serial number of an item that has been stolen.
- Please include photographs of any items of property, if available.
If you have any further property to include and require another form, please contact the officer in the case.
All completed forms should be returned via email to the officer in the case.
Support information
We know that being a victim of burglary can be very upsetting and we want to make sure you can access any support and help whenever and however you want. Below are some details of organisations and information which can help you. If you have any concerns or questions about your investigation which you need help with, please contact the Quality of Service team by ringing 101 and asking to speak with them.
Victim support
We work closely with Victim Support, a national charity for victims and witnesses of crime in England and Wales, to make sure you’re offered emotional support whether you’ve been affected by crime or watched one take place.
Victim Support provides a confidential service across Essex and makes contact with victims within four days of a crime taking place. To make sure this happens we will inform them of the crime within 24 hours unless you request otherwise.
Making a victim personal statement
You are entitled to make a Victim Personal Statement (VPS) to explain in your own words how a crime has affected you, whether physically, emotionally, financially or in any other way.
Your VPS is important and it gives you a voice in the Criminal Justice Process by helping other to understand how the crime has affected you.
www.gov.uk/government/publications/victim-personal-statement
Understanding support for victims of crime
This will give you information on what you can expect from police as a victim of crime. It will also explain the process involved and answers some frequently asked questions.
Information for victims of crime leaflet
This leaflet sets out what you can expect from the criminal justice system if you are a victim of crime. It contains information about organisations that you can contact for free advice, practical information and emotional support.
Leaflet - information for victims of crime (PDF)
The victims code
The Victims’ Code of Practice sets out the services and information victims of crime are entitled to receive from the Police and other Criminal Justice Agencies. It clearly sets out what victims can expect – your key entitlements – from your initial report to the police, through to charge and/or outcome, including a court case. The code also sets out your rights as a victim.
Restorative justice
The Essex Restorative and Mediation Service gives those affected an opportunity to communicate with those who have caused them harm. This voluntary process helps offenders to take responsibility for the harm they have caused, and gives victims a voice.
Crimestoppers
Find out more on this site about how to anonymously report crime or criminal activity.
Neighbourhood Watch
Essex Neighbourhood Watch work together in local groups to help reduce crime and its effects in their neighbourhoods. More information about Essex Watch schemes.
