It can be a seriously disturbing feeling, knowing that someone has been in your home uninvited. But every year, millions of people around the world have to deal with just that. Home invasions, whether you’re at home or away, can be a traumatic event for you and your family. It isn’t just as simple as cleaning up after them. There is all manner of personal trauma to cope with as well, from feelings of guilt, to feelings of being unsafe for the weeks that follow. If you’re the victim of a home invasion, here’s a few ways to get back on your feet.
Call in the police
If you’re the victim of a home break-in, the police need to know about it. The sooner you can call them, the better, so get in touch as soon as you know something’s amiss, even if you think the criminals might still be in your home. If the police can arrive early on, they have a far greater chance of catching them. But even if they’re long gone, they can come in and take fingerprints and DNA evidence to try to find the person responsible.
Approach your insurance company
Chances are, there’s going to be damage to your home and potentially the loss of belongings, so you’re going to need to approach your insurance with your police incident number as proof. Take an inventory of what you have lost as quickly as you can after the incident, and photograph any damage immediately too – this will be invaluable when it comes to claiming money for your insurance.
Get it cleaned up
One of the most traumatic elements of a home invasion would be the mess that they can leave, particularly if weapons were involved. It’s essential that this gets cleaned up as quickly as possible so you can go on with rebuilding your life. If you don’t feel comfortable dealing with it by yourself, call in professionals for a crime scene clean up – you might even be able to claim the cost back on your home insurance. The sooner that everything is tidied and back to normal, the sooner you will be able to start processing what has happened, and moving on.
Do what it takes to reassure yourself
After this sort of traumatic event, it is normal to find it very difficult to feel safe at home afterward, and it is likely that your family will also be feeling similarly. It is essential to do whatever it takes to reassure you and protect your home. Refitting window and door locks, installing a new intruder alarm or CCTV system, or even buying a family dog are common ways people go about reclaiming their home. But remember, it will take time to overcome it. If you or any of your family are particularly struggling to recover, a few counselling sessions might be able to help people to come to terms with what’s happened.
Recovering from a home invasion can be difficult, but just remember that you’re not alone, and there are plenty of people who will be more than willing to help you, if you require it.
