Break-ins and incidents of theft in Whangarei can be financially devastating and emotionally stressful. Despite the fact that you can’t completely prevent burglaries from occurring, there are a number of measures you can take to considerably lessen the likelihood of your business or property in Whangarei becoming an easy target.
Between 2021 and 2022, New Zealand had a startling 170,341 theft-related offenses, according to the official Police.govt.nz website, there were also a shocking total of 65,930 documented cases of unlawful entry with intent, burglary, breaking and entering.
So you’ve had an intruder break into your home; what do you do now? Following a burglary, here are some quick actions you should do to restore order to your property as fast as possible.
Call the authorities
In the event of a break-in, the sooner you notify the authorities, the better their chances of finding the criminals. If you delay calling the police, it becomes increasingly difficult to track down the perpetrators.
Nothing should be touched
It may be tempting to clean up, move things, or even look through places to see what's missing, but do resist the urge!
A crime scene is more likely to be disturbed if you touch or move any of the surfaces or objects in the area. Police will let you know when it's safe to go through your belongings and tidy up.
Give them a list of the things that were stolen information like dates and times, and any CCTV footage you have. This will help them find out more. In the event that there have been other break-ins in your neighbourhood, this data can be used to connect the dots. The more information you provide to the authorities, the better the outcome will be.
After the police have cleared the scene, they should also give you a crime reference number. For your insurance company to look into your claim, they will need this number.
It's time to tidy up
You may not feel like cleaning up, but it's an important thing you can do to protect your property. In the aftermath of a break-in, it's not enough to just sweep up the shattered glass and other mess left behind. Reinforcing your doors and windows with new locks, for example, will make it more difficult for intruders to gain access to your property. You can protect your belongings and the layout of your business by covering windows with blinds and curtains, or by replacing any flimsy curtains that allow a direct line of sight. Remove any clutter or tree limbs obstructing your view of the exterior. (If you need commercial cleaning services, our sister company Cleanscape.co.nz can help)
Inform Others
Let neighbouring shops, and other businesses in the vicinity know about your break-in as well; it's not only a good thing to do, but it can inspire them to keep a look out for strange activities and suspicious activities going forward..
Get in touch with your insurance company
When the dust settles, your insurance company should be contacted to explain the claims process, which may include filling out paperwork, providing evidence such as CCTV footage or images from the day of the break-in, the police case number, proof of purchase and receipts of missing things. Every insurance company's policy will be different, so be sure to check out their criteria before signing up for a new coverage.
Hire a security agency to look after your business and property in Whangarei
What type of vulnerability and access points commonly exploited by intruders can be determined with the help of Northern Districts Security. They can assist making your property safe by looking into what areas to patrol and where to focus attention.
Highly-trained security guards on watch can help secure your business 24/7. Try the expert security services of Northern Districts Security.
With our elite and reliable security services in Whangarei, you can rest easy knowing that your company, property and assets are well-protected.
You can be confident that your business is in good hands with Northern Districts Security because we put a lot of time and effort into screening, vetting, and training all of our security guards — we’ll find a way to keep you safe that works for you. Call Northern Districts Security today at 0800 114 632 or email us at info@ndsecurity.co.nz
