Theft guide
What to do after a break in or theft
Someone was in your home or your car and took your stuff. Here's what to do right now, what insurance usually covers, and how to list what's missing.
Coming home to a kicked in door is a gut punch. When I sold insurance, the people I talked to after a break in were usually less upset about the TV and more upset that someone had been in their space.
That feeling is normal. While you're dealing with it, here's the practical stuff, in order, so you don't lose money on top of everything else.
1. Get safe and don't touch anything
- If the door is open or something feels off, don't go in. Back away and call 911 from outside or from your car. The person could still be there.
- Once police say it's clear, try not to touch or clean up. Officers may want to see how they got in and what was moved.
- Take photos and video of the broken window or door, the mess, and empty spots where things used to be.
2. Call the police and get a report number
Even if you think the police won't find your stuff, file a report. Most insurers will ask for the police report number before they pay a theft claim. For a smaller theft, like a stolen package or something taken from your car, many departments let you file online.
Write down the officer's name, the report number and how to get a copy. If you remember more missing items later, you can usually add them to the report.
3. Is it worth filing a claim?
Before you call your insurer, do some quick deductible math. Your deductible comes off the top of the claim. So if your deductible is $1,000 and a thief took $1,400 worth of stuff, you'd get about $400 back. If they took $8,000 worth, filing makes a lot more sense.
A couple of other things to weigh:
- Claims history can affect your rates. A small claim might cost you more over time than it pays now. Ask your agent how your insurer handles it.
- Your policy may pay replacement cost or actual cash value. Actual cash value takes off depreciation, so a five year old laptop pays a lot less than a new one costs. Replacement cost usually pays the depreciated amount first, then the rest once you buy the replacement. More on that in actual cash value vs replacement cost.
When in doubt, call your agent and ask how it would play out before you formally file.
4. What insurance usually covers
Homeowners and renters policies usually cover theft of your personal belongings. A few things surprise people:
- Stuff stolen from your car is usually a homeowners or renters claim, not an auto claim. Your auto policy covers the car itself, like a broken window. The laptop or golf clubs taken out of it usually fall under your home or renters policy.
- Your stuff is often covered away from home, like a bike stolen at work or luggage taken on a trip. Some policies limit how much they pay for property that's off premises.
- Valuables have special limits. Many policies cap theft of certain items at a much lower amount than your overall coverage. Jewelry and watches are often capped somewhere around $1,000 to $1,500 for theft, cash is often capped around $200, and firearms are often capped around $2,000 to $2,500. Your policy will list the exact numbers.
- Package theft can be covered, but the value is often below your deductible. Contact the seller or carrier first. Many will resend or refund.
If you own anything worth more than those limits, ask your agent about scheduling it on a rider or floater. It's usually not expensive, and it's a lot better to find out now than after a break in.
5. List what's missing
This is the part people put off, and it's the part that decides how much you get paid. Your insurer will usually want a list of each stolen item with a description, brand, model, age and value.
- Go room by room, including closets, drawers, the garage and anywhere you hide things
- Write down serial numbers for electronics, bikes, tools and firearms. Check the original box, your online account or the manufacturer's registration
- Look for photos of the items in your camera roll and social media
- Pull order history from Amazon, Best Buy and other stores
- Check bank and credit card statements for bigger purchases
- Find what each item costs to replace today and save the link
Give the serial numbers to the police too. It's one of the few ways stolen stuff ever gets matched back to its owner. Our home inventory checklist helps jog your memory, and if you don't have receipts, here's how to prove what you owned without them.
Build the missing list faster
I built AfterProof because making this list by hand is brutal, and it's even worse when the stuff isn't there to look at. Snap photos of what's left, the empty spots, or similar items, the AI identifies them and finds what they'd cost to replace today, and you get a PDF to send your adjuster. For a long list, the web app works great from a computer.
6. Cancel cards and change locks
- Cancel any stolen cards and watch your accounts for strange charges.
- If your ID, checkbook or Social Security card was taken, consider freezing your credit with the three credit bureaus and check IdentityTheft.gov for next steps.
- Change your locks, especially if keys were stolen. If you rent, tell your landlord in writing.
- Fix the way they got in and keep the receipt. Your policy may cover the damage to the door or window.
- Change passwords if a laptop, phone or tablet was taken, and use the find my device feature to lock or erase it.
Quick answers
Does homeowners insurance cover theft?
Usually, yes. Homeowners and renters policies generally cover theft of your belongings, minus your deductible. Valuables like jewelry, cash and firearms often have lower special limits.
Is stuff stolen from my car covered by car insurance?
Usually not. Belongings stolen from your car are typically covered by your homeowners or renters policy. Your auto policy usually covers damage to the car itself, like a broken window.
Do I need a police report for an insurance theft claim?
Most insurers ask for one. File a report as soon as possible and keep the report number for your claim.
Is it worth filing a claim for a small theft?
Compare the value of what was taken to your deductible. If it's close, the payout may be small and a claim could affect your rates. Ask your agent before you file.
Does renters insurance cover stolen packages?
It can, but the value is often less than your deductible. Contact the seller or delivery company first, since many will resend or refund the order.
This is general information, not insurance or legal advice. Every policy is different, so check yours or ask your agent.
Sources: New York Department of Financial Services, basic homeowners coverage, United Policyholders, pesky gaps and caps, NAIC, homeowners and renters insurance.
