You walk up and see the door is open. Or the lock is cut. Or the window is smashed.

That cold feeling in your stomach? The sudden rush of anger? Yeah. I know that feeling. It’s not just about the stuff. It’s the feeling that someone was in your space. It’s personal.

Take a second. Just breathe. Your heart is probably hammering in your chest. Let’s walk through this together, one simple step at a time.

First, and I can’t stress this enough: Do NOT go in

I know you want to. You need to see what’s gone. But please, listen to me. If the person who did this is still in there, you do not want to meet them. They could be desperate. They could be dangerous.

Your safety is more important than anything they could have stolen.

So, stop. Back away. Get back in your car and lock the doors. Drive to the nearest coffee shop. Then call the police. Tell them, “Someone broke into my house [or my storage unit, or my car]. I haven’t gone inside. I’m waiting for you.” Let the cops be the ones to go in first.

The cops are here. Now what?

Good. Let them do their job. Stand back and let them check the place out.

Here’s the hard part: Don’t touch anything. I know it’s killing you to see that mess and not start cleaning it up. But you could be messing up their evidence. You could wipe off a perfect fingerprint just by picking up a picture frame.

Just be a good witness. Point things out from the doorway. “Hey, I can see my TV is missing from that stand.” That’s all you need to do right now.

Time to play detective with your phone

Once the police say it’s all clear, this is your most important job. Get your phone out. You’re going to document everything.

First, take a video. Just hit record and walk through slowly. Talk out loud. It feels weird, but do it. “Okay, so the back door is kicked in… walking into the kitchen, all the drawers are pulled out, and my laptop is gone from the table…”

This video is your big-picture story.

Then, take a ton of photos.

• Get a close-up of the broken lock.
• Take a picture of the empty space on your dresser where the jewelry box was.
• Snap a shot of the shattered window glass on the floor.

Be thorough. You will not remember these details later. These photos are your best ammunition when you call the insurance company.

Making the list

This is where you have to sit down and write everything that’s missing. Your mind will go blank. Just start in one corner and work your way around.

The trick is to be ridiculously specific.

Don’t write “camera.” Write “Nikon D3500 with an 18-55mm lens, serial number 123ABC.”
Don’t write “my wife’s ring.” Write “a white gold band with a small diamond in the center.”

Details matter. If you have old receipts or the original boxes, now’s the time to find them. This list is what the police and the insurance people need.

Let me tell you something about my business

I own 3D Self Storage. My name is on the sign. The thought of one of my customers going through this makes me feel sick. We’re not some big, faceless company. You’ve probably seen me around the property, or you’ve talked to my manager, Linda.

Because this is my business, I am absolutely paranoid about security. We have lights so bright you need sunglasses at night. I personally check the camera feeds every single morning. I know most of your cars by sight. If a vehicle I don’t recognize is lurking around, I’m out there in two minutes asking them what they need.

If the worst ever happens at one of my units, you’re not getting a customer service ticket. You’re getting me, in person, standing there with you, helping you talk to the police, and pulling up the security footage right then and there. It’s my responsibility, and I take it personally.

The insurance call. (Grab a snack first.)

This is the draining part. Get your policy number, your police report number, and all your photos together before you call.

The person on the other end will walk you through it. Be patient. Send them everything. And for heaven’s sake, ask the important questions:

• “What’s my deductible?”
• “How long until I see a check?”
• “Are there any limits on what you’ll cover for my tools?”

Get all the answers now.

Last thing. This is important

This whole thing is a violation. It messes with your head. It’s normal to feel jumpy or angry for a while. Don’t just bottle it up. Talk to someone. A friend, your partner, whoever will listen.

After everything is settled, do something to reclaim your space. Rearrange the furniture. Buy a new rug. It helps your brain reset and feel safe again.

This is a horrible thing to go through. But you will get through it. You’re handling it. And for what it’s worth, I’m on your side.