When someone breaks into your house or garden it’s sometimes called breaking and entering, or housebreaking. We will always call it “housebreaking” when you speak to us.

Stealing doesn’t always happen in a break-in or housebreaking. It’s still a crime even if nothing is stolen.

If you want to tell us about a break in, you can report it online, by phone, or in person.

Report it using our online form

Learn about other ways you can report a crime to us

If you think someone has broken into your house or garden you should not go inside in case the intruder is still there.

If you can:

• go to a neighbour or safe place
• call 999 if you think the intruder is still there
• call 101 or fill in our online form if the intruder has gone

Victim Support can give support after a break-in, and help deal with the police, insurance, and other processes.

Keep your garden safe

To keep your garden safe you can:

• keep front hedges, walls, and fences low and rear fences and walls high
• grow plants that have natural spikes and are hard to climb
• add security lights such as motion sensor or timer-activated lights
• consider using CCTV to check and record activity on your property
• make sure bins are not left where they can be used to climb on
• lock away tools and garden valuables
• make sure gates can be locked

Keep your home safe

To keep your home safe you can:

• lock your doors and windows or fit extra locks
• use a security bar for your door
• use security items certified by Secured By Design or Sold Secure
• put your keys somewhere safe
• avoid putting your address or room number on your keys
• avoid putting a calendar near a window
• install a security alarm
• add security lights such as motion sensor or timer-activated lights
• consider using CCTV to check and record activity on your property
• add window grills or heavy wire mesh

If you’re on holiday

To protect your property when you’re away, you can:

• avoid posting on social media
• ask someone to check on your home, open and close curtains, and remove post
• use Royal Mail’s Keepsafe service
• ask a neighbour to put your bins out and put them back
• use timers on lights
• set your house alarm

If you’re having work done

If people are working on your property, you can:

• avoid giving keys to workers
• tell neighbours what, where, and how long work should last
• keep door and windows shut and locked

Keep your valuables safe

To keep your valuables safe, you can:

• avoid leaving valuables where they can be seen
• insure your valuables
• record your valuables on the Immobilise website or take a photo of valuable items and record the make, model, colour, and serial numbers
• mark your valuables with a DNA marking kit such as a SelectaDNA kit
• use a UV pen to write your house number and postcode on your valuables if you don’t have a DNA marking kit
• keep house keys and car keys on different keyrings