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Recovering from a Burglary: Steps to Protect Your Identity
Every year, countless burglaries occur in the U.S., leading to the theft of valuables such as cash, jewelry, and electronics. More concerning, however, is the potential theft of items that can lead to identity theft, such as credit cards and personal documents. If you have been a victim of a burglary, follow these steps to recover and mitigate the impact of identity theft.
1. File a Police Report
Immediately call 911 to report the burglary to your local law enforcement agency. If you feel unsafe, leave your home and make the call from a secure location. Officers will conduct a preliminary investigation and file an official report.
2. Take an Inventory
After ensuring your home is safe, create a detailed list of stolen items, including cash, jewelry, electronics, credit cards, and personal documents. Provide specific details about any stolen credit cards or documents to assist law enforcement in their investigation.
3. Contact Your Insurance Company
Notify your homeowners or renters insurance company about the burglary and provide them with the inventory of stolen items. This will initiate the process of filing a claim for the stolen items. If you have identity theft protection, file a separate claim for identity theft-related costs.
4. Place a Fraud Alert
Set up a free fraud alert with the three major credit reporting agencies (Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax). A fraud alert instructs creditors to verify your identity before granting credit, helping to prevent unauthorized accounts from being opened in your name.
5. Consider a Credit Freeze
As an alternative to a fraud alert, you can freeze your credit with the three major credit reporting agencies at no charge. A credit freeze restricts access to your credit report, making it difficult for anyone to open new credit accounts in your name. You can temporarily lift the freeze when needed.
6. Contact Your Credit Card Issuers
If your credit cards or card numbers were stolen, contact the issuers immediately to prevent unauthorized transactions. The issuers can deactivate the stolen cards and issue new ones. If you report the theft before any fraudulent charges occur, you won’t be held responsible for those charges.
7. Notify Your Financial Institution
Inform the financial institutions where you hold savings, checking, and investment accounts about the burglary. They will take steps to protect your accounts from fraud.
8. File a Report With the FTC
If identity theft occurred, report it to the Federal Trade Commission at IdentityTheft.gov. The FTC will provide a recovery plan to help you address the identity theft.
9. Take Action Regarding Stolen IDs
If any IDs were stolen, report them to the appropriate agencies. For a stolen driver’s license, contact your state’s DMV. For a stolen passport, notify the U.S. State Department. If your Social Security card was stolen, order a replacement and report the theft to the FTC if you suspect identity theft.
10. Monitor Your Credit Reports and Accounts for Fraud
Regularly check your credit reports and bank accounts for signs of fraudulent activity. Credit monitoring services can alert you to any changes, allowing you to take immediate action if necessary.
11. Secure Your Personal Information
To prevent future identity theft, keep important documents in a home safe, create strong passwords, and use a password manager to store and organize your passwords securely.
The Bottom Line
Experiencing a burglary can be distressing, especially if it leads to identity theft. By following these steps, you can recover from the incident and protect yourself from future identity theft. For any mortgage service needs, contact O1ne Mortgage at 213-732-3074. We are here to assist you with the best service possible.
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