First 48 Hours
Theft or vandalism. Here is what to do in the first 48 hours.
Theft claims rise or fall on documentation. Police report first, full inventory second, carrier notice third. In that order. Not the other way around.
Before you do anything: make your home safe.
If there is active fire, gas, electrical risk, or structural collapse risk, evacuate and call 911 first. Property damage is recoverable. Safety is not.
Immediate steps
The first hour
Every minute of the first hour after theft / vandalism shapes the claim that follows. Work the list. Do not skip steps. Do not improvise.
- 01
Call 911 or local police non-emergency immediately
A police report is required by virtually every carrier. Get the incident number before you do anything else.
- 02
Do not touch or move anything until police arrive
Preserve the scene. Fingerprints, footprints, point of entry evidence.
- 03
Walk through with the responding officer
They will document and take their own photos. Ask for a copy of the report or the case number and officer name.
- 04
Secure the property
Board up broken windows, repair the door if needed. Change locks if keys may have been taken.
- 05
Call your carrier and open a claim
Have the police report number ready. FNOL starts the clock.
Critical
Document before you clean
Photograph everything first.
Your carrier will question anything you clean up before they see. Documentation preserves scope. Cleanup without documentation collapses scope.
- 01
Take your own photos of damage and point of entry
Do not rely on police photos alone. Wide and close. Every room affected.
- 02
Complete a detailed inventory of stolen items
Brand, model, serial number, age, condition, purchase price, replacement cost. Serial numbers especially matter for electronics.
- 03
Gather proof of ownership for high-value items
Receipts, photos of items in the home before theft, appraisals for jewelry, warranty registrations.
- 04
Review your sublimits
Jewelry, cash, firearms, collectibles, electronics all have specific Florida HO-3 sublimits. Know them before the call.
What to photograph and video
- ✓Every point of entry (broken window, forced door, pried lock)
- ✓Every area where items are missing (empty spaces, tipped drawers)
- ✓Any vandalism damage (walls, floors, furniture)
- ✓Broken items or property damage from the intrusion
- ✓Pre-theft photos of stolen items (from phone backup, social media, insurance inventory)
- ✓Receipts and purchase documentation for high-value items
FNOL
Call your insurance carrier
Once the property is documented and safe, call your carrier. Ask for a claim number. Give the facts. State that you are reserving the right to supplement the claim as the full scope emerges. That is standard language, not a red flag.
Free claim review
Get a free claim review from a licensed Florida public adjuster.
We review your policy and estimate at no cost. If we take your case, our fee only comes from the increased recovery.
- ✓Licensed Florida public adjusters
- ✓We work for policyholders, not insurance companies
- ✓No fee unless we recover more than you were offered
What kind of damage?
Pick the closest match. We will ask for details later.
Do not give a recorded statement yet.
You can decline until you have documented the full scope and, ideally, had a licensed Florida public adjuster review your statement. Once recorded, it is the canonical version of events.
If you know your carrier, read the carrier profile for specifics on how they handle theft / vandalism claims. Each carrier has patterns. Knowing the pattern is half the advantage.
Policy requirement
Mitigate further damage
Your policy requires you to take reasonable steps to prevent further damage. Emergency tarps, plumbing shut-offs, board-up, drying, mold control. Keep every receipt. These expenses are reimbursable.
What is reasonable mitigation?
Tarps on a damaged roof: yes. Full roof replacement in week one: no. Water extraction and drying: yes. Finish replacement before scope is agreed: no. The line is "prevent further damage," not "start repair."
Know the traps
Red flags in the first 48 hours
- LIClaim delayed because the inventory is "incomplete"Carriers may stall on "we need more detail." Provide what you can; supplemental claims are allowed within statutory windows.
- PRCarrier demands proof of ownership you do not haveLack of a receipt does not defeat a claim. Photos, credit card statements, witness statements, warranty records, online order history all qualify.
- SUSublimit claimed as total payoutJewelry sublimit (often $1,500) is the cap only if you did not schedule items. If you had a rider, the rider limits apply. Know the difference.
- MYMystery-disappearance exclusion triggeredTheft and mysterious disappearance are different perils. Carriers sometimes misapply the exclusion. Insist on theft classification when there is evidence of forced entry.
Free claim review
Still building your claim? We can help right now.
A licensed Florida public adjuster will review your policy and loss documentation for free.
- ✓Licensed Florida public adjusters
- ✓We work for policyholders, not insurance companies
- ✓No fee unless we recover more than you were offered
What kind of damage?
Pick the closest match. We will ask for details later.
Decision
When to call a public adjuster
You should call a licensed Florida public adjuster when the damage is substantial, when the carrier's first response feels like an anchor, when you are being asked to sign things you do not fully understand, or when the carrier is asking questions that feel designed to shift the narrative of cause.
You do not need one for a $500 screen repair. You almost always want one for a $30,000 kitchen restoration. In between, the rule of thumb is: if the claim complexity exceeds the time and expertise you can give it, get representation.
Public adjusters in Florida work on contingency. No recovery over the carrier's first offer, no fee. Our interests align with yours.
No obligation. No fee unless recovery.
Free claim review from a licensed Florida public adjuster.
No obligation. No fee unless we recover more than you were offered.
FAQ
Common questions about theft / vandalism claims
Do I need a police report to file a theft claim in Florida?+
What is the jewelry sublimit on my policy?+
What counts as proof of ownership for stolen items?+
Does insurance cover cash that was stolen?+
What if I cannot find proof of ownership for some items?+
What is the difference between theft and mysterious disappearance?+
If you need another one
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Go deeper
Deeper claim resources
Claim Process Guide
Every stage of a Florida insurance claim.
Florida Insurance Law
Statutes that protect policyholders.
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When carriers deny and how to fight back.
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Every major damage category.
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Florida carrier profiles.
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Every claim term defined.
Help Center
Common problems homeowners face.
Case Studies
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Decision and settlement tools.
Storms
Every major Florida storm profiled.
Locations
All 67 Florida counties.
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Free claim review
Your policy says more than you think. Find out what you are actually owed.
Licensed Florida public adjusters. Free claim review. No recovery, no fee.
- ✓Licensed Florida public adjusters
- ✓We work for policyholders, not insurance companies
- ✓No fee unless we recover more than you were offered
What kind of damage?
Pick the closest match. We will ask for details later.
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