Filing a Burglary Insurance Claim With No Receipts
After a break-in, the frustrating part of the claim is proving what was taken — the stolen items are gone, and few of us kept the receipts. Here's how to file a strong burglary claim without them.
How to file a burglary insurance claim
- Call the police and file a report immediately — your insurer will require the report number.
- Notify your insurance company as soon as possible to open the claim within the policy's time limit.
- Photograph the scene, including any damage from the break-in, before you tidy up.
- List every stolen item with its value, and any serial or model number you have.
- Gather whatever proof of ownership you can: prior photos, card statements, box or warranty.
- Keep records of everything you spend securing the property, and don't repair damage until documented.
Serial numbers do a lot of work in theft claims. For stolen electronics, a recorded serial number both proves the exact item was yours and helps police recover it. A photo showing the item in your home is the other half of the proof.
Filing without receipts comes down to whatever record you kept before the burglary. If all you have is memory, you'll under-list and under-value — it's almost unavoidable under stress. If you have a photo inventory, you already have the proof of ownership and the values, and the claim writes itself.
That's the case for keeping a home inventory before anything happens. Homivo stores a photo, value, date and serial-number note for each item, privately and offline on your iPhone, and exports a claim-ready PDF listing everything with a total — the record that turns "I think they took…" into a documented claim. One-time purchase, no account.
Frequently asked questions
Can I claim stolen items without receipts?
Yes. Receipts are only one form of proof. A police report plus photos of the items, serial numbers and card statements can establish ownership and value. The strongest position is a home inventory made before the theft.
Do I need a police report for a burglary insurance claim?
Almost always, yes. Insurers require a police report number for theft claims, so file the report immediately after discovering the break-in.
How do I prove what was stolen?
With a list of the items, their values, serial numbers, and any prior photos. A photo home inventory kept in advance is the most reliable proof — after the burglary you can't photograph what's already gone.