After a Burglary: Questions the Police May Ask

by Paul Konrardy

Your house has been broken into and you’ve called the police.

Once they’ve arrived, be prepared to answer questions. These help the officers gather information about the event.

WHN TIP – Make Some Notes: While you’re waiting, make some notes based on the following questions so you can give them as many details as possible.

Typical questions include:

  1. Who was at home at the time of the burglary?
  2. What did you see or hear?
  3. If no one was at home, who was the last person to leave the home and when?
  4. Were the doors and windows locked and shut?
  5. What time did you return home?
  6. Did you see anyone inside or outside your home when you returned? If so, what did they look like:
    • Gender:_________________________________________________________
    • Age:____________________________________________________________
    • Weight:__________________________________________________________
    • Height:__________________________________________________________
    • Size:____________________________________________________________
    • Skin color:________________________________________________________
    • Hair color/length:___________________________________________________
    • Clothing:_________________________________________________________
    • Shoes:___________________________________________________________
    • Distinguishing features (glasses, hat, tattoos, piercings, scars, etc.):____________________________________________________________
  7. Did you see any cars drive by? If so, what did they look like:
    • Type of car (truck, sedan, van, etc.):_______________________________________
    • Color:___________________________________________________________
    • Make:___________________________________________________________
    • Model:___________________________________________________________
    • Year:____________________________________________________________
    • License plate:______________________________________________________
    • Distinguishing features (cracks, stickers, dents, detailing):________________________________________________________
  8. How long did you wait to call 9-1-1?___________________________________________
  9. What items have been taken? _______________________________________________
  10. Are any items/furniture/rooms damaged?_______________________________________
  11. Who lives here?_________________________________________________________
  12. How long have you lived here?_______________________________________________
  13. Who has keys to the house?_________________________________________________
  14. Do you have a security system? Was it activated? Who has access codes to the system?___________________________________________________________________
  15. Have you hired any contractors or repairmen recently?___________________________________________________________________
  16. Have any door-to-door salespersons stopped by recently?___________________________________________________________________
  17. Who has been inside your home recently?___________________________________________________________________
  18. Do you have any idea as to who the perpetrator might be?___________________________________________________________________
  19. Are your insurance payments up to date?_______________________________________
  20. When did you last file a claim?______________________________________________

WHN TIP – Get Your Inventory List. Having trouble figuring out what might be missing?  Use your home inventory list. (If you haven’t done one recently, do it now!)

Photo Credit: Pixabay

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