If you have been a victim of burglary, you may be considering moving to a new home that you think will be safer. But before you begin the process of looking for your new home, it’s important to stop and establish where to find the best home security options. You should also consider some factors that could affect your decision to move in terms of safety from future burglaries.
What to Consider Before Moving After Burglary
Deciding to move depends on your needs and how much risk you will accept by staying in your current home or moving elsewhere.
Here are six things to consider before moving after a burglary.
1) Take Inventory
One of the essential things you can do is take an inventory of what was stolen from you. It will help if your insurance company asks for an official count, and it’ll also help so that you don’t accidentally purchase something that burglars took. While it may feel weird, get on your hands and knees and look under rugs, beds, and furniture.
2) Take Time To Heal
Leaving your home may be inevitable, but it isn’t necessarily a good idea. If you rush out of your house after a burglary, it can cause you to overlook small details and leave behind valuable clues that could help police catch your intruder. Instead, take time to heal mentally and physically and give yourself space to think things through.
3) Check Homeowner’s Insurance
The loss of your items is covered as long as they’re insurable. If there isn’t any coverage for what was stolen, or if you don’t have homeowners insurance, it may be time to start shopping for a new policy and getting some new locks.
4) Find Out Your Rights If You Are Renting
Under landlord-tenant laws, landlords cannot demand that you move out simply because your property was burglarized. If they do, they are breaking their contract with you. To legally evict you after a break-in, they must first terminate your lease. They must also give you a written notice of at least 30 days or 60 if you’ve been living there for two or more years.
5) Speak With Neighbors About Security Measures
You may feel uncomfortable talking with your neighbors about burglaries, but it can be an important part of assessing security. Speak with them about their security measures and see what you can learn about their experience. You might find out that they use professional monitoring or have installed extra lighting — steps that could help keep your home secure. If there are no signs of forced entry into your neighbor’s house, you may have been targeted specifically, and your neighborhood is safe. But if there are signs of forced entry in several houses on his street, you should take extra precautions.
6. Consider Moving if Necessary
If talking with neighbors doesn’t give you enough reassurance, it might be time to consider moving altogether. Remember, though, that burglars typically target homes within their neighborhoods, So even if you move to a new city or state, it’s likely that you will still have to deal with some risks of being burglarized again.
Final Words
After a burglary, the feeling of insecurity is so loud, but you must take time to assess what was stolen and how critical each item is. Don’t make any rash decisions right after something like this has happened.
Featured photo by Lisa Fotios on Pexels.
