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Been burgled at home: what should I do?
Find out what to do if you’ve been burgled at home. Follow these steps and practical tips to protect your property from future break-ins.
Thousands of burglaries take place in homes across Spain every year. According to the latest figures from the Ministry of the Interior, 81,040 burglaries involving force at homes, business premises and other facilities were recorded in 2024, a figure that shows the scale of this type of crime across the country, especially in tourist areas such as the Costa del Sol, where many properties are left empty for part of the year.
If you ever find yourself thinking, “I’ve been burgled at home”, the most important thing is to stay calm and act quickly. In this article, we explain what to do step by step, how to make a claim if you do not have receipts for the stolen items, what happens when there are no signs of forced entry, and how you can protect your home to avoid future incidents.
Been burgled at home: the first steps to take
At a time like this, quick action and a clear head are your best allies. Every decision matters when it comes to helping the investigation and improving the chances of recovering your belongings.
1. Call the police
Before entering the property or moving around inside, contact the National Police or the Guardia Civil. If you think the burglars may still be inside, do not go in. Wait for the officers in a safe place and note down any detail that could be useful: number plates, noises, witnesses, nearby cameras, and so on.
The emergency number is 112, although you can also go directly to a police station. The sooner it is reported, the greater the chance of recovering the stolen items.
2. Do not touch anything
Avoid the urge to tidy up or check your things. Do not clean or move any objects. Every fingerprint or mark could be evidence. The officers will take photographs and carry out a visual inspection.
Even if the burglary looks “clean” — with no broken glass or damaged locks — do not disturb the scene. No visible damage does not mean there is no evidence.
3. Make a list of the stolen items
While you wait, or once the police inspection is complete, start writing down everything that is missing. Include detailed descriptions such as brand, model, colour, serial number and approximate value.
Photos, purchase emails or user manuals can also be used as evidence. The more information you provide, the easier it will be to identify the items if they appear on the second-hand market or in later investigations.
4. File the burglary report
The police report is essential. It must be filed at a police station or online, although only if you do not need an immediate inspection. You will need to describe what happened and list the stolen items.
Keep a stamped copy of the report, as you will need it to claim on your insurance or to prove ownership of replacement items later on. For example, if your laptop is stolen and you then buy a similar one.
5. Speak to your insurance
If you have home insurance, notify them as soon as possible. Each policy sets its own deadline for reporting a claim, usually within 7 days.
The insurer will send a loss adjuster to assess the damage and determine the compensation. If you have a service such as Olin Protect, contact technical support directly. In many cases, cameras and sensors store records that can help the investigation or confirm the break-in.
Been burgled at home and I don’t have receipts: what should I do?
This is more common than it seems. Most people do not keep every receipt or invoice for every item they own. But losing that paperwork does not mean giving up your compensation.
Insurers may accept other forms of proof, such as photographs, social media posts, purchase emails, manuals or even statements from people who have seen the item in your home.
For example, if your television has been stolen and you do not have the receipt, but it appears in the background of a family photo or a home video, that may be enough to prove that you owned it and roughly how old it was.
The replacement value will usually be calculated based on depreciation, so you are unlikely to receive the original purchase price. What matters is proving that you really had the item and that it was stolen.
If your policy includes cover for burglary involving force or intimidation, it may still cover you even if you cannot provide every receipt, as long as the police report is clear and consistent with the facts.
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Been burgled at home without forced entry: advice
When there are no signs of forced entry, the investigation becomes more complicated. But that does not automatically mean the insurance will not cover the burglary.
First, check whether the lock may have been tampered with using methods such as lock picking, bumping or a false key. Loss adjusters can identify these techniques even when there is no obvious damage.
If entry was gained through deception, for example someone pretending to be a technician or delivery driver, or because your keys were lost, the level of cover will depend on the type of policy you have.
Some insurers require signs of violence or forced entry, while others cover burglary without force if there is a police report and supporting evidence. That is why it is important to check the terms of your home insurance carefully.
In any case, change the lock straight away and, if you still rely on a standard lock, consider installing smart systems or sensors connected to an alarm. Olin Protect, for example, offers instant notifications to your mobile and cameras with cloud recording, so you are not relying only on a physical lock.
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