Sometimes a burglar can steal more than just your belongings; he can steal your feeling of security.  Initial emotional symptoms of burglary victims include fear, anger, guilt, resentment, shame, grief, and mood swings.  These symptoms are similar to those victims of assault, rape, and other violent crimes.  Furthermore, studies have shown that the way in which responding police officers deal with  victims, has a significant impact on emotional symptoms following the crime and how the victims will view the police overall.

          Billie Corder, a psychiatrist at the University Of North Carolina School Of Medicine, conducted interviews with burglary victims.  "The majority of victims say they will never have the same feeling of security and inviolability that they had in the past," Corder said.  Corder found that half described the experience as feeling "like a violation or rape.”  Corder told Psychology Today that the feelings of violation led several women to wash all of their clothes after a burglar had rummaged through them. One laundered everything three times.  In a third of adults, sleeplessness and anxiety lingered for months after the break-in, but kids were especially shaken by the experience.  One first-grader began hiding favorite toys before leaving for school each day.

          Before we cover what to do mentally after a robbery, let’s talk about what you should do immediately after your house is broken into.  If you discover you have been the victim of a theft or burglary from your home, it is important that you not move or touch anything.  You should call the police immediately.  The next call you make should be to your insurance loss assessor.  The sooner they are involved, the better.  They will come to your home as soon as possible to take photos and assess the damage.

          It is also important that once you have taken all the responsible action you should accept the burglary as an unfortunate event and try to move on.  This is not always easy but there are people who can help.  Although friends and family, as well as the police, will help you through this difficult period it is worth being aware that special counseling and practical advice should be provided at a local level.  Ask the responding police officer for guidance in finding a group.

          Robbery victims may experience recurrent and intrusive thoughts and dreams of the incident and may also be hyper-alert.  They might get scared easy after noises or abrupt actions.  Changes in eating and sleeping habits are also common.  A robbery can be a violent, life-threatening situation and for the victim can incorporate issues of one's own death and fears of leaving loved ones behind.

          Psychologists say realizing and accepting that these reactions are normal are the first steps to recovery.   Another critical step in recovery is being able to talk about the experience and feelings.  This enables the victim to validate feelings and fears.  As victims talk about the robbery and their reactions, over time the incident will begin to be put into perspective.