TL;DR: ABS estimates 217,500 Australian households experienced an attempted break-in in 2024-25. The first night after a burglary should focus on four things: police clearance, urgent entry repairs, neighbour awareness and a visible or audible change before someone reaches the door.
Author: Daniel Tang · Published: · Updated: · Reviewed sources: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Victoria Police, Australian Institute of Criminology and Victims of Crime Victoria.
What should you do in the first hour?
In 2024-25, 2.0% of Australian households experienced attempted break-in and 1.7% experienced break-in, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. In the first hour, your job is simple: stay safe, call police, wait for clearance and avoid touching possible evidence.
If you think someone may still be inside, call 000. If the property is empty but has clearly been entered, call the police assistance line on 131 444 and wait outside or at a neighbour's home. Do not walk through rooms to check what is missing before police tell you it is safe.
What should you do before sleeping tonight?
Victoria Police burglary prevention guidance tells households to secure doors and windows, keep valuables away from view and make the home look occupied. Before you try to sleep, turn those principles into a short action list for the broken entry, the next easiest entry and the approach path.
| Time window | Do this | Do not do this |
|---|---|---|
| Right now | Confirm police clearance and keep the event number handy. | Do not clean, repair or move items before police allow it. |
| Tonight | Repair or temporarily board the damaged door or window. | Do not sleep beside an unsecured entry point. |
| Before bed | Move keys, wallets and bags away from doors and windows. | Do not leave replacement valuables visible from outside. |
| Before morning | Tell two trusted neighbours what happened and what to watch for. | Do not keep the incident completely private if nearby eyes can help. |
What evidence should stay untouched?
Police and insurance both need a clear record. If you move drawers, sweep glass, test handles or put items back, you can make it harder to show what happened. Wait for police direction, then photograph the entry point, rooms searched, damaged items and anything obviously missing.
Keep the practical record boring and complete: event number, time you discovered the break-in, repair invoices, photos, serial numbers and a running list of missing items. If you rent, send the damage photos and event number to your property manager as soon as police have attended.
Should you sleep at home tonight?
Victims of Crime Victoria notes that strong emotional and physical reactions after crime are common. It is reasonable if your home does not feel normal tonight. Sleep at home only if police have cleared it, the damaged entry is secure and you are not alone with a level of fear that feels unmanageable.
If the entry point cannot be secured, stay with family, a friend or a neighbour. If you need to stay home, ask a trusted adult to stay over, keep a charged phone beside you, set exterior lights, and avoid repeatedly checking outside. Rechecking can keep your body in alarm mode.
What makes the home feel different by tonight?
Australian Institute of Criminology burglary prevention research has long treated repeat victimisation as a real risk for burglary victims. The practical first-night lesson is this: someone who already saw the home as quiet should see, hear or meet a different signal before getting close again.
Locks matter because they restore the barrier. Lights matter because they remove concealment. Sound matters because it answers the approach before entry. A motion-triggered barking alarm can make the house sound occupied, and like it has a dog, before someone reaches a door, side gate, garage or rear path.
Make the entry sound occupied before anyone reaches it.
K9-Alert is a motion-triggered barking deterrent for Australian homes. Place the wireless sensor near the approach, plug in the receiver inside and use the remote to arm it when you go to bed.
- No Wi-Fi or app — local sound works without a router or cloud plan.
- No drilling — suitable for renters and temporary first-night placement.
- A$99.95 — buy once, no monthly monitoring fee.
What can wait until tomorrow morning?
Not every job belongs in the first night. Tomorrow, call your insurer, complete the stolen-items list, ask neighbours whether they saw anything, book permanent repairs, check whether keys or remotes were taken and review the whole approach route from street to entry.
Use daylight to walk the property from the outside. Look for the quiet path: side gate, bins, shrubs, balcony, garage side door, laundry window or bathroom window. Then close the path with the simplest layers first: lock, light, sight line and sound.
What if you still feel unsafe?
Feeling unsafe after a burglary is not a failure to cope. It is a normal response to someone entering your private space. If panic, sleeplessness or fear continues, call a GP, counsellor or victim support service. Practical security helps, but support can matter just as much.
- Victims of Crime Victoria: support information for common reactions after crime.
- Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636.
- Lifeline: 13 11 14.
See the barking dog alarm in action
Product claims are easier to judge when you can hear the device. This short demo shows K9-Alert detecting movement and playing barking, so you can decide whether the sound fits your front door, side path, garage or rental entry.
Add a before-entry deterrent tonight.
K9-Alert helps your home sound occupied before someone reaches the door. No Wi-Fi, no app, no subscription. A$99.95 with free AU shipping and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Order K9-AlertCommon questions
Should I sleep at home the first night after a burglary?
Only sleep at home if police have cleared the property and every damaged entry point is secured. If a door, window or lock cannot be repaired that night, stay elsewhere or have a trusted adult stay with you until the home is secure.
What should I not touch after a break-in?
Do not clean, move items or repair the entry point until police say evidence has been recorded. Take photos after police clearance, keep receipts for urgent repairs and write down the event number for insurance and follow-up.
How can I feel safer tonight after a break-in?
Secure the damaged entry, turn on exterior lighting, move keys and wallets away from doors, tell trusted neighbours and add a visible or audible change at the approach point. A motion-triggered barking alarm can make the home sound occupied before anyone reaches the door.