[Home Safety] Discovering Your Home Has Been Burglarized After Returning (Past Break & Enter)

Applicable Scenario: You return home from an outing to find the front door pried open, windows smashed, the house ransacked, and your belongings stolen, but the thief has already left the scene.

Self-Help & Quick Solutions:

  1. Retreat to a safe zone: Do not enter the house under any circumstances. You cannot be 100% sure if the burglar has actually left. Immediately retreat to a safe public area, such as your yard, your car, or a neighbor’s house.
  2. Preserve the scene; do not touch anything: Before the police arrive and finish collecting evidence, do not count your belongings, do not clean up, and do not touch doorknobs or rummaged drawers to avoid destroying fingerprints or DNA left by the suspect.
  3. Collect electronic evidence: If you have a smart doorbell (like Ring) or backyard security cameras installed, check and save the video footage from the time of the incident on your phone. This will serve as crucial evidence for police investigations and subsequent insurance claims.

Who to Call & Contact Info:

  • The thief has left, no immediate danger: Do not call 911. Call the Vancouver Police Department (VPD) Non-Emergency Line immediately: 604-717-3321.
  • Insurance claim: Once the police provide a “File Number,” call your home/tenant insurance company immediately to file a claim.

Should I call 911 if I return home to find my house has been burglarized but the thief has already left the scene?

No, do not call 911 if there is no immediate danger to life or safety. Instead, immediately contact the Vancouver Police Department (VPD)
Non-Emergency Line at 604-717-3321. While waiting for officers to arrive, retreat to a safe zone (like your yard or vehicle) and do not touch anything; avoid cleaning up or counting belongings to prevent destroying fingerprint or DNA evidence.

What should I do after the police investigate the break-in and provide a “File Number”?

Once you receive the File Number, contact your home or tenant insurance provider immediately to open a claims process. For additional legal rights and information regarding theft and property claims in British Columbia, you can explore the Dial-a-Law platform operated by the People’s Law School for certified legal guidance.