Your home was burgled: police, evidence and what not to touch

Key rules

• Scene: Do not enter if the intruder may be inside, and do not move or clean anything until officers have seen it.
• Denuncia: For a forced entry, file in person and leave with a copy showing its reference number.
• Insurer: Tell your insurer within seven days of finding out, unless your policy allows longer; the same day is safest.
• Repairs: Photograph damage before any repair and keep damaged parts until the insurer's assessor has seen them.

First minutes: stay safe and touch nothing

If you see signs of a break-in, do not go in if the intruder may still be inside. Move away and call 112, 091 or 062. Then wait for the officers.

Do not tidy up. Doors, windows, drawers and objects may carry fingerprints or other traces. Take photos of what you see without moving anything.

Will forensic police come?

A patrol normally attends, records the facts and takes your statement. A forensic team may come to collect fingerprints, DNA and footprints, but not always. It depends on how serious the case is, what evidence there is, whether the scene is untouched and who is available. It can take hours or a day or more. Minor cases with no clear evidence may get no forensic visit.

File the denuncia

The denuncia is your formal criminal complaint. For a burglary with forced entry, go in person to a police station, a Guardia Civil post or the juzgado de guardia. Online and phone options are meant for minor thefts, so they usually do not fit a forced entry. Check the current options with the Policía Nacional.

File as soon as you can, ideally within 24 hours. Take your ID, NIE or passport, the address, a description of what is missing and any proof you have. You can file in any language, but you may need an interpreter.

Before you leave, ask for a copy with its reference number. You need it for the insurance claim and to replace stolen IDs, cards, keys, phones and vehicle papers.

What happens next

The police pass the file to the court, which opens an investigation. If no suspect is found, the case is often provisionally archived. It can be reopened if new evidence appears. You may be called to testify or to identify items. If the offender is found, you can claim compensation in the criminal case. You can ask the court or police for updates.

Tell your insurer

Tell your insurer within seven days of finding out, unless your policy allows longer. In practice, call the same day and send the denuncia as soon as you have it. Late notice can leave you liable for the insurer's damages from the delay. Read your policy for its own notice period and for conditions such as required security measures.

Secure the home and cancel cards

Cancel any stolen bank cards straight away. Arrange for the lock or damaged door to be made safe, but photograph everything first. Keep repair quotes and invoices. Do not throw away damaged parts until the insurer's assessor has seen them.

List what was taken

For each item write the description, brand, model, serial number or IMEI, approximate value, purchase date and where it was kept. Add invoices, receipts, warranties, bank statements and earlier photos that show you owned it. Give the same list to the police and to the insurer, with the denuncia number. If you find more missing later, update the list and tell both.

The checklist, documents list and timeline below put these steps in order.

Timeline and deadlines

• Tell your insurer about the burglary: the same day you find it

• Send the insurer the denuncia as soon as you have it: as soon as possible after filing

Documents you need

• Your ID, NIE or passport, to show to the police when you file the denuncia.

• A copy of the denuncia with its reference number, given to you by the police. You need it for the insurance claim and to replace stolen IDs, cards, keys, phones and vehicle papers.

• A written list of stolen and damaged items with description, brand, model, serial number or IMEI, approximate value, purchase date and where each was kept.

• Photos of the damage, forced doors and windows and the disorder, taken before any repair.

• Invoices, receipts, warranties, bank statements and earlier photos that show you owned the missing items.

• Repair quotes and invoices for the damage, to give to the insurer.

Checklist

• Stay out of the home if the intruder may still be inside, move away and call 112, 091 or 062.

• Leave doors, windows, drawers and objects untouched so police can collect fingerprints and other traces.

• File the denuncia in person at a police station, a Guardia Civil post or the duty court, ideally within 24 hours.

• Tell your insurer the same day, within seven days at the latest, and send them the denuncia.

• Make a list of stolen and damaged items and give the same list to the police and the insurer.

Frequently asked questions

Will forensic police always come after a burglary?

No, forensic officers do not always come after a burglary, because police decide case by case.

Can I file a burglary denuncia online or by phone?

Usually no, because online and phone (091) filing is meant for minor thefts with no suspect or violence. For a burglary with forced entry, go in person to a police station, a Guardia Civil post or the duty court so the scene and losses can be recorded.

What happens after I file the denuncia?

The police pass your file to a court, which opens an investigation. If no suspect is found, the case is commonly shelved but can be reopened if new evidence appears.

What do I do if I find more missing items later?

Add the new items to your list and send the updated list to the insurer and the police. Keep the same denuncia number on it.