Practical Advice
Go through your property and note down everything that has been damaged or destroyed.
Contact the number on your insurance policy as soon as you feel able to. You will need to explain in detail what exactly happened, so it can be helpful to do this when it is fresh in your memory. Insurance companies may need evidence to show the value of items you intend to claim for – try to gather receipts, or evidence of purchase from bank statements.
You will also need to provide insurers with your crime number – the officer in your case should have provided this to you after taking your statement. If you don’t have this or can’t remember, you can contact 101 and they can provide it after taking a few details.
Looking After Yourself
Everyone reacts differently to experiencing a crime. It is important however to recognise that whatever has happened to you, it can still feel like a violation.
If you have any physical injuries, it is important that you get these checked out as soon as possible at either a walk in centre or Accident and Emergency – you can find your local urgent care centre here https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/Urgent-Care/LocationSearch/0
You might also find that you feel suddenly quite emotional, you might struggle to sleep properly or feel anxious being in your home or out and about. It is important that you recognise that all of these are not unusual to experience following any crime.
Some ways you can help yourself during this time:
- Let your friends and family know what has happened, and if you feel comfortable, tell them how you feel
- If possible, speak to your workplace or school – see whether they can offer flexibility or time off to sort things out
- If you are struggling with your emotional wellbeing, speak to your GP – they may be able to refer you for counselling
The NHS Moodzone pages have a lot of tips on how to boost your emotional wellbeing which you can find here.
