TL;DR: Stay somewhere safe and contact police; call 000 for an incident in progress, a suspect present, injury or immediate danger. Follow police instructions before entering or disturbing evidence. Arrange urgent repairs or somewhere safe to stay, contact your insurer, and ask for practical and emotional support as needed.
About this guide: General safety education from K9-Alert, a seller of the optional device below. It does not replace police instructions, a personal safety plan, tenancy advice or your insurance policy.
Step 1: Do not go inside — call police first
If you return home to find signs of a break-in, do not enter the property. An intruder may still be inside. Stay outside at a safe distance.
- If you believe someone is still inside: Call 000 immediately.
- For a past incident with no immediate danger: Contact your state police non-urgent reporting service; 131 444 is available in many jurisdictions. Follow their directions about attendance and entry. Do not search the property yourself to establish that it is empty.
Follow police instructions about when it is safe to enter and what can be moved. Victoria Police advises not touching or moving items after a burglary. Do not assume a non-urgent report means an officer will attend immediately.
Step 2: Document everything before you touch anything
When police say it is safe and appropriate, take photographs before cleaning up or rearranging. Ask what evidence should remain untouched:
- The entry point (door frame, window, lock mechanism)
- Every room that was searched — drawers opened, items moved
- Any damage to property or belongings
- What is obviously missing (do your best — a full list will come later)
Write down the police event number. You will need it for your insurance claim and for any follow-up with police. Victorian households can also check the crime rate for their area to put the incident in context.
Step 3: Fix the entry point that night
Do not sleep in the property if there is an unsecured entry point. Call a 24-hour locksmith to repair or replace the damaged lock or door frame. If a window was broken, have it temporarily boarded until it can be properly repaired.
Ask your insurer about emergency repairs, temporary accommodation, excesses and any approval needed. Cover depends on the policy and circumstances; keep photographs, quotes, invoices and receipts, without assuming reimbursement is guaranteed.
Tonight: what to do before you sleep
Before you try to sleep, turn Victoria Police burglary prevention advice into a short list for the broken entry, the next easiest entry and the approach path.
| When | Do this | Avoid this |
|---|---|---|
| Right now | Confirm police have finished and keep the event number handy. | Cleaning, repairing or moving items before police allow it. |
| Tonight | Repair or temporarily board the damaged door or window. | Sleeping beside an entry that cannot be secured. |
| Before bed | Move keys, wallets and bags away from doors and windows. | Leaving replacement valuables visible from outside. |
| Tomorrow morning | Follow up repair bookings and insurer requirements; choose any trusted person you want to inform. | Assuming costs are covered or asking neighbours to investigate. |
Download the first-night and next-day checklist. Keep any completed record private.
Should you sleep at home tonight?
Victoria Police recognises that burglary can affect your sense of safety. If the home remains insecure or you do not feel able to stay, consider a trusted person or safe temporary accommodation. Follow police directions and keep a charged phone available. No device purchase determines how quickly you should feel comfortable again.
Step 4: Contact your insurer
Contact your home and contents insurer as soon as possible. Have ready:
- Your policy number
- The police event number
- Your photographs of damage
- A preliminary list of stolen or damaged items
Make the first claim enquiry promptly and ask how to add information as you discover losses. Record the claim number, who you spoke to, what they authorised and the next deadline. Avoid disposing of damaged property before police and insurer requirements are clear.
Step 5: Tell trusted neighbours
If you want support, choose someone you trust and share only what helps them assist you safely. Where stalking, family violence or privacy concerns are involved, ask police or a specialist service before sharing your location, temporary address or routine. Neighbours should not investigate or confront anyone.
Share relevant observations with police through the reporting channel they recommend. Ask trusted neighbours to contact police if they see an offence or danger, not to patrol, investigate or confront anyone. A report does not guarantee extra patrols or a particular response time.
Step 6: Review the next security gaps
Once immediate safety and the damaged entry are addressed, review other accessible doors, windows and stolen keys. Use the repeat burglary evidence guide to understand the limits of the statistics. There is no reliable countdown to a return visit at your home.
Start with measures already available: working locks, safe lighting, keys kept away from entry points and help from someone you trust. If a needed repair or safe temporary barrier cannot be arranged, consider staying elsewhere. Do not let a new device purchase delay essential work.
Then consider optional equipment for a defined role. Check setup conditions and actual availability before depending on it tonight:
- Motion-triggered barking alarm — can play a local sound when movement crosses its sensor’s view. It does not prove a dog is present, guarantee deterrence or summon help.
- Motion-activated exterior lights — removes the cover of darkness at entry points.
- Improved visibility — clear any shrubs or features that provided concealment on approach.
Check whether a local barking alarm fits your repaired entry.
K9-Alert uses a wireless motion sensor and indoor receiver to play a local barking sound. It has no phone notification or monitored response. The ordinary PIR cannot detect through closed glass; use a permitted sheltered position and test the actual route and radio link with the setup guide.
- Check permission and placement — removable does not automatically mean every location is allowed.
- Local remote control — arm with A and disarm with B; it does not confirm status while you are away.
- $95.00 — a 30-day money-back guarantee and 1-year warranty.
Step 7: Give yourself and your household time to feel safe again
A break-in is a violation. Feeling unsettled, anxious or on edge in your own home afterwards is a normal and understandable response. The practical steps above are important, but do not neglect the emotional dimension.
- Talk about how you feel with people you trust.
- If anxiety about being home alone is persistent, it may help to speak to a GP or counsellor.
- Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636
- Lifeline: 13 11 14
Repairs and support may help restore a sense of control, but recovery differs between people. You do not need to buy a device to justify feeling safer, and a security product is not a treatment for anxiety or trauma.
Why practical steps help you feel safer
Feeling on edge, having trouble sleeping or repeatedly checking the home can happen after a frightening event. Ask for support that suits you, whether practical help, someone to stay with or professional care. Victoria Police lists victim support contacts; other states have their own services.
When to get support
There is no timetable you have to meet, and no need to wait weeks before asking for help. Talk with your GP or a qualified counsellor when distress affects your daily life, or sooner if you want support. Examples include:
- still unable to sleep most nights,
- avoiding being home alone,
- having intrusive thoughts or flashbacks, or
- withdrawing from things you normally enjoy.
Beyond Blue (1300 22 4636) and Lifeline (13 11 14) are free and available 24/7. In an emergency, call Triple Zero (000).
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I go inside after discovering a break-in?
Stay somewhere safe and follow police instructions before entering. Call 000 if the incident is happening now, someone may still be there, or anyone is injured or in immediate danger. For a past incident without immediate danger, use your state police non-urgent service. Do not investigate the rooms yourself.
What do I need for my insurance claim after a break-in?
Keep the police event number, photographs taken when safe, an inventory of losses and receipts for emergency work. Ask your insurer what else it needs and whether repairs or accommodation require approval. Cover, excesses and reimbursement vary; a receipt alone does not guarantee that a cost will be paid.
How do I secure my home after a break-in if I'm a renter?
Notify the landlord or property manager promptly and confirm the damage in writing. Check your state’s urgent-repair rules, authorised contact and spending procedure before arranging work. If the property cannot be secured, seek a safe place to stay. Portable alarms do not replace repairs or automatically remove consent requirements.
Reviewed sources
- Victoria Police: reporting burglary and victim support
- Queensland Police: safe response to a break-in
- Consumer Affairs Victoria: urgent rental repairs
- Beyond Blue support
- Lifeline crisis support
Product introduction
This introduction explains the product and intended setup. It does not measure sound level, sensing range, battery life or performance at your property. Check the current instructions and test the actual placement before use.