Burglary: what to do in the first 24 hours

If the door has been forced and you don't know whether someone is still inside, don't go in. Move away and call the Grand Ducal Police on 113. If anyone is injured, call 112.

The police record the break-in and tell you how to file a complaint. Almost every insurer asks for one.

• Photograph the door, lock, windows and every room that was entered, before tidying.
• Don't clean anything until the police have been.
• List the missing items, with invoices, photos or serial numbers if you have them.
• Note the time you discovered the burglary.

A home that no longer locks must be secured before nightfall. Depending on the damage:

Door and lock

Replacing the forced cylinder, adjusting or repairing the lock, temporary reinforcement if the door is damaged.

Glazing

Fitting a security panel until the permanent made-to-measure glass is ready.

Secondary access points

Shutters, garage door, cellar door: make sure no access point is left vulnerable.

Ask for an itemised invoice describing each item of damage and each part fitted: it's the document your insurer will ask for.

Tell your home insurer as soon as possible. The reporting deadline is in your policy: check it, it is often short.

Attach the police complaint receipt, the photos, the list of items and the invoices for securing the home. Don't throw away broken parts before the insurer or its assessor agrees.

• If keys were stolen, have every affected cylinder replaced.
• Tell your bank if cards or chequebooks are missing.
• Change the passwords of stolen devices (computer, tablet, phone).

A burgled home is sometimes targeted again once the items have been replaced. A few measures reduce the risk:

• an anti-snap security cylinder on the front door;
• door reinforcement or a multipoint lock if the door gave way easily;
• burglar-resistant glass on exposed openings;
• extra attention to secondary access points, which are often less protected.