What to Do First
After ensuring safety and calling the police, document everything before cleaning up or touching anything. The state of your property immediately after the theft is critical evidence.
What to Document
For the Police Report
Officers want: a clear description of what happened, when you discovered it, what's missing, and photos of the scene. Timestamped evidence removes any question about when you documented the break-in.
For the Insurance Claim
Your insurer needs: photos of damage and the crime scene, an itemized list of stolen items with values, proof of ownership (receipts, photos of items in your home, serial numbers), the police report number, and a timeline of events.
For Police
For Insurance
The Proof-of-Ownership Problem
Most people can't prove they owned what was stolen. Here's the fix: periodically photograph valuable items in your home with SnapProof. Verified timestamps prove these items existed in your possession on specific dates. This is the fastest way to strengthen any future theft claim.
