What to Do After a Home Break-In

Start with immediate safety

Discovering that someone may have entered your home can be frightening and disorienting. You do not need to solve everything at once. If the person may still be nearby, someone is injured, or there is any immediate danger, move to a safer place and call 000. Do not confront anyone.

If the immediate risk has passed, it can help to take one step at a time. You may choose to call a trusted person, wait somewhere that feels safer, or write down the first things you notice. There is no need to make every decision immediately.

Preserve the scene where possible

If you believe there has been a break-in, avoid touching or moving items that may be relevant to a police report. When you are ready, make a note of visible damage, missing property, or other details you remember. Photographs can be helpful where it is safe to take them, but police directions should come first.

The Australian Federal Police advises calling 000 in an emergency and the Police Assistance Line on 131 444 for non-urgent help to be connected to local police. Reporting arrangements and online-reporting eligibility can vary between states and territories, so follow the directions of the police service in the place where the incident occurred.

Take manageable practical steps

Once urgent safety and reporting needs have been addressed, you may wish to make a short list of practical items to consider. Depending on the situation, this could include damaged doors or windows, keys, garage remotes, locks, devices, important documents, and communication with an insurer. Choose only what feels manageable today.

You may also prefer to ask a trusted person to be with you while you make calls or arrange temporary repairs. If an entry point cannot be secured safely, seek appropriate local assistance as soon as you can.

Australian burglary-prevention guidance

Some detailed prevention suggestions in this resource are drawn from Queensland Police home-security guidance. These suggestions — such as securing access points, documenting valuables and improving visibility around a property — are practical examples from Queensland, not a single nationwide police policy. Local advice, services and reporting options differ across Australia.

For a future sense-of-safety plan, it may be useful to consider whether access points, lighting, valuables, devices, or routines need attention. Shield & Rebuild’s online planning tool can help people think through general physical and digital security questions in their own time. It does not replace emergency services, police advice, or an individual assessment.

Important: This resource is general information only. Police and emergency services are the appropriate contacts for an incident in progress, immediate danger, injuries, or evidence that may need to be preserved.