Your homeowners insurance policy can help if your personal belongings are stolen or if your house is vandalized. If you find yourself in either of those situations, act immediately so your insurer can process your claim quickly.
File a Police Report
Call your local police department and file a report documenting the theft or vandalism. The police report will note important details, such as signs of forced entry or the types of damage that were caused to your property.
Call Your Insurance Company
Contact your homeowners insurance company or your insurance agent to file a claim. Provide details on the incident, including what was stolen and what kinds of damage were caused.
Your insurance company will request supporting documentation, such as the police report. When you file a report, you should receive a case number. If the police report is not yet available, you can give your insurance company your case number so they can obtain the report when it’s completed.
The insurer will also request photos and/or videos showing damage that vandals caused or signs of forced entry. If your personal belongings were stolen, the insurance company will request evidence that you owned those items, such as receipts.
Having a personal property inventory can be helpful. An inventory contains information on all your personal belongings, including physical descriptions, serial numbers for electronic devices, and receipts for items that you purchased yourself.
If your house is burglarized, you’ll have information that your insurance company needs readily available. Making a list of your belongings in advance can also help you determine what was stolen. You might be so upset that you can’t figure out exactly what’s missing.
Understand Your Coverage
Many homeowners mistakenly believe that their insurance policy will only cover theft if their personal belongings were in their house when they were stolen. In fact, insurance coverage applies even if items are stolen from another location.
For example, if your phone or laptop is stolen from your car or an item is stolen from your storage unit, your homeowners insurance policy can cover your loss. Your insurer will likely limit your coverage for off-premises theft.
If you submit a claim for theft or vandalism, you’ll have to pay your deductible, and your premiums can go up. If the amount of your loss isn’t much more than your deductible, it won’t make financial sense to file a claim. Weigh the pros and cons and figure out if you should file a claim or if you would be better off paying for repairs or replacement items out of your own pocket.
