What is it?
Robbery, burglary and theft are all crimes where your possessions have been taken by another person, for their gain, without your permission. Regardless of the value of the item, if your personal property has been deliberately taken by another who intends to permanently deprive you of it then a criminal offence of theft has occurred. Burglary occurs when a person enters, without permission, a building or part of a building with the intention of stealing items from inside. Burglaries can occur in domestic properties, business premises, sheds, garages, outbuildings and even gardens. In law, a person has committed burglary if they have entered a building as a trespasser with the intention of:
- Causing damage
- Inflicting serious injury
- Committing theft
Robbery is the taking of money or goods belonging to another from his or her person by force or intimidation.
What should I do if I am a victim of robbery, theft or burglary?
If you are a victim of theft, burglary or robbery you should contact the police immediately providing all the information you know on the crime. Identify what items have been stolen including the make, model and any identifying marks and make a list of these details.
Don’t touch anything as this could destroy valuable evidence.
How do I report a crime?
You should always dial 999 if you or someone else is in immediate danger or if the crime is currently in progress.
If the crime is not an emergency situation call police on the non-urgent number 101. You can also contact Crimestoppers to report a crime anonymously on 0800 555 111. They will pass the information about the crime to the police.
Where can I find more help?
The Police and Crime Commissioner funds organisations that provide support services for victims and witnesses in Derbyshire. These are free of charge and are available to anyone who lives in Derbyshire. For Robbery, Theft and Burglary these support services are provided by Derbyshire Victim Services.
DERBYSHIRE VICTIM SERVICES
If you have ever been the victim of crime, or have been affected by a crime committed against someone close to you, Derbyshire Victim Services can provide all the help and support you need. Their local team offers a friendly, free and confidential service to anyone living in Derbyshire. It doesn’t matter if you reported the crime to the Police or not they are here to help you with any practical advice and emotional support.
0800 612 6505
TEXT ‘DVS’ TO 82228
support@dvssupport.org
Below are a range of other organisations that will be able to provide advice and support:
CRIMESTOPPERS
CrimeStoppers is an independent charity helping law enforcement to locate criminals and help solve crimes, through anonymous reporting. The site also provides crime prevention advice for a number of crimes.