Your
local law enforcement agency should respond to conduct a complete and thorough investigation
resulting in a detailed report consisting of a list of all items stolen, damage to property,
as well as details of the actual crime. You should assist the police to ensure the report is
accurate. Later, if you discover other items are missing, you will need to re-contact the
police to ensure the report is updated. Your insurance company will verify a report has been
filed with the police and may rely upon the responding investigative police report to assist
in the decision of money to be paid out against the policy. Gulf Coast Public Adjusters will
guide you through the inventory, as well as determine the cost for you to fully recover from
the burglary, vandalism, and destruction to your dwelling.
While it is valuable to know the distinctions between burglary, theft, and vandalism,
normally your investigating or responding law enforcement agency will certainly specify the
situation (according to state statutes and codes). However, here are your basic definitions:
Burglary
Burglary is the act of entering a property illegally with the intent of breaking a law.
Components of burglary consist of trespassing, breaking, and entering. A person who commits
burglary could do so to steal from the property, illegally inhabit the structure, or
vandalize property.
Theft
Theft or robbery is a criminal act in which a person takes someone else’s property without
permission. While burglary often goes together with theft, theft can occur without burglary
and vice versa.
Vandalism
Vandalism is the focused and malicious destruction of property by someone who does not own
the property. Vandalism is often referred to as malicious mischief or malicious trespassing.
It is common for those who commit vandalism to first commit burglary, though not everyone
who commits burglary is guilty of vandalism.
When burglars, thieves, or vandals have damaged your business or commercial property the
damage can be substantial and costly. It is important to understand exactly how your
property was damaged and exactly what your policy covers when submitting or presenting your
insurance claim. Gulf Coast Public Adjusters will help you present your insurance claim
properly; as well as any supplemental claims to help you fully recover the total cost of all
that has been broken, damaged or stolen from your home/business invasion, burglary, or
vandalism.
Insurance companies will need proof you owned the items you are claiming to have been stolen
as a result of the incident. You must establish ownership by providing documentation, such
as credit card statements, receipts, or photographs. The more documentation you provide, the
easier for your insurance carrier to settle the claim.
Being violated and victimized by burglary, vandalism or theft is traumatic enough; you do
not want to have to fight with your insurance company. Gulf Coast Public Adjusters will help
you through the insurance labyrinth to fully recover the value of your stolen or vandalized
property.