Burglary in Brussels: the 8 steps in order (police, insurance, lock)
Short answer: After a burglary in Brussels, stay at a safe distance and touch nothing. Call the police on 101, then take photos without moving anything, following their instructions. Notify your insurer immediately: do not wait for a complete inventory or police report number. After the police examination, have the door secured and the cylinder replaced if keys are missing.
Published on 23 October 2026 · Updated on 23 October 2026
The 8 steps, in order
This order is a guide, not a reason to delay: after calling the police, block stolen cards and notify your insurer without waiting for a full inventory. Stay away if an intruder may still be present. Only photograph rooms following police instructions.
- Touch nothing. If you have not gone in yet, stay outside. Do not tidy up: fingerprints, tools left behind and signs of forced entry matter for the investigation.
- Call the police on 101 (or 112). Follow their instructions for recording the facts and preserving evidence. If the culprits are still there, do not confront them: note which way they left and in what vehicle.
- Take photos of the door, frame, cylinder, windows and ransacked rooms without moving anything. They add to the police photos and will help your insurer.
- Block what was stolen: bank cards (Card Stop), ID documents (Doc Stop), the SIM card of your phone (through your operator). The numbers are on the official sites cardstop.be and checkdoc.be.
- List what is missing: description, year of purchase, estimated value, photos, invoices, serial numbers. Give it to the police and to your insurer.
- Notify your insurer (or broker) as soon as possible, within the deadline in your policy, and send the police report number when available. See the insurance section below.
- Have the door secured once the police examination is complete and your photos are taken. If keys are missing, have the cylinder replaced.
- Tell your landlord or building manager if you rent or if the shared entrance is affected, before committing to major works.
Sources: BeSafe, BeSafe (FPS Interior).
Who to notify, and when
Police first, always; then whatever is urgent (cards, phone); then your insurer. The locksmith comes only after the police examination. The table sets out the order.
| Who | When | Why / what to provide |
|---|---|---|
| Police | Straight away, before anything else | Findings, traces, police report |
| Bank (Card Stop) and mobile operator | As soon as a card or phone is missing | Stop withdrawals and fraudulent use |
| Insurer or broker | As soon as possible, within the policy deadline | Police report number, photos, list of missing items |
| Locksmith | After the police examination | Close the door, replace the cylinder if keys are missing, itemised invoice |
| Landlord (if you rent) | Quickly, in writing | Damage to the door, windows and lock; ask which insurance policy may apply |
| Building manager (co-ownership) | If the shared entrance or common areas are affected | Repair and claim under the building's insurance |
| Police victim support | Whenever you feel the need | Someone to listen, information on your rights, referral to professionals |
Sources: BeSafe. The building manager's role depends on your building's co-ownership rules.
Insurance: deadline, documents and what is covered
Notify your insurer as soon as possible and within your policy deadline. Do not wait for the police report number, every invoice or a final inventory: send what you have and complete the file later. Keep proof of notification.
Under article 74 of the Act of 4 April 2014, an insurer cannot rely on a missed contractual deadline if notification was as prompt as reasonably possible. Articles 75 and 76 require reasonable measures to limit the consequences: a breach that harms the insurer can reduce its payment by the amount of that harm; a fraudulent breach can lead to refusal. These rules concern those duties, not every ground for refusal: the cover purchased and exclusions still matter.
| Item | What to check |
|---|---|
| Door, frame, lock, windows | Ask the building insurer whether break-in damage is covered and who should claim. Payment is not automatic. |
| Stolen or damaged belongings | Theft cover is optional, not automatically included in fire insurance. Check whether your belongings are insured. |
| Attempted theft, vandalism, stolen or false keys | Check the insured circumstances and exclusions of the theft cover. |
| Payout | Check valuation, depreciation, excess and limits, especially for jewellery, cash and cellars. |
| Emergency securing and cylinder replacement | Ask whether these costs are covered, whether assistance arranges the work and what prior approval is needed. |
Check occupancy and door-locking conditions too. Supply photos, the inventory, supporting documents and the police report number as they become available.
Sources: Act of 4 April 2014, articles 74–76, Assuralia: theft insurance.
Securing the door without wiping out traces
Wait until the police have finished, photograph the door and cylinder as they are, then have the door closed the same day if it no longer holds. If keys are missing, have the cylinder replaced.
Ask the locksmith to check whether the door, frame and strike plate still allow secure locking. The law expects reasonable steps to limit the damage. Here is how to go about it, and what to keep for the insurer.
| Work | When | Keep for the insurer or landlord |
|---|---|---|
| Temporary closing of the door | After the police examination, the same day if the door no longer shuts | Before/after photos, itemised invoice |
| Cylinder replacement | If keys are stolen or lost, or if copies are a worry | Invoice, mention of the missing keys in the claim |
| Repair of door, frame and strike plate | After the insurer's or landlord's agreement for major work | Quote, photos, police report |
| Upgrade (security cylinder, cylinder guard, 3-point lock) | Afterwards, at your own pace | Invoice: tell the insurer as your policy requires |
Whether emergency securing is reimbursed depends on your policy: ask your insurer and keep every invoice.
In Brussels, FUSE SERVICES' emergency locksmith after a break-in can attend; see also our locksmith page. Ask for an itemised invoice for your file.
Sources: BeSafe.
Tenant, owner, co-ownership: who repairs and pays?
Who orders emergency securing, who must repair and which insurer might reimburse the cost are separate questions. Report the damage in writing and have the cost allocation confirmed before permanent repairs, rather than advancing costs without agreement.
- Tenant: notify your landlord immediately, with photos and the police reference when available. Ask them to arrange building repairs and check their insurance. Report stolen belongings separately to your own insurer if you have theft cover. Do not assume the landlord's insurance covers your belongings.
- Owner-occupier: check building cover, contents cover and securing costs separately.
- Co-ownership: report damage to the shared entrance to the building manager. For the flat's door, ask for the deed, co-ownership rules and building policy to be checked before allocating costs.
If the door will not close, tell the police and ask how emergency securing can proceed without destroying evidence. Document the urgency, limit work to what is necessary and keep the invoice. Seek legal advice if responsibility for payment is disputed: a locksmith's invoice does not establish liability.
Sources for practical steps and cover: BeSafe, Assuralia. Cost allocation needs checking for your lease and building.
In Brussels: police zones, victim support and prevention
Brussels has six police zones, and the Region publishes the list of burglary-prevention advisers (technoprevention) by municipality and by zone. After a burglary it is a good moment to have your home's security assessed.
- Six zones: Brussels-Capital Ixelles, Brussels-West, Midi, Uccle/Watermael-Boitsfort/Auderghem, Montgomery and Brussels-North. Consult the regional list by municipality and police zone to find the appropriate contact.
- Burglary-prevention adviser: a trained police officer or municipal employee who visits your home and gives tailored, neutral advice with no obligation.
- Victim support: the police offer a victim-assistance service, for someone to listen, information on your rights and referral to professionals.
Sources: Brussels-Capital Region (be.brussels), BeSafe. Each adviser's contact details are on the Region's page; we do not reproduce them here.
Your questions before we arrive
What people in Brussels, Walloon and Flemish Brabant ask before confirming.
Do I have to report a burglary to the police?
How quickly must I tell my insurer?
Can I repair the door before the assessor comes?
Tenant: who pays for the forced door and lock?
Should I change the lock if nothing was stolen?
FUSE SERVICES operates in Brussels and both Brabants. Call the number shown at the top of this page for a quote.
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