Quick Answer
After a burglary or attempted break-in, put personal safety first, call 999 if there is immediate danger, preserve the scene and check firearms, ammunition and certificates against reliable records. If any firearm, shotgun, ammunition or certificate has been stolen or lost in Great Britain, notify the chief officer who issued the certificate as soon as reasonably practicable and no later than seven days.
A burglary involving a firearms address needs a calm, structured response. The priorities are people, police, preservation of evidence, accurate inventory and lawful security for anything that remains.
This guide does not replace directions from the police. Follow the instructions given by the attending officers and your firearms licensing department, especially if a cabinet, alarm or part of the building has been compromised.
What should you do while a burglary may still be happening?
Move yourself and other people to safety and call 999 if an intruder may still be present, someone is at risk or a crime is in progress. Do not confront an intruder or enter a building merely to check the gun cabinet.
Tell the operator that firearms may be stored at the address. Give clear information about occupants, injuries, suspected entry points and anything you have seen, but do not speculate about what has been taken.
Wait in the safe location directed by the police. Keep children, visitors and animals away from the scene until officers say it is safe to return.
How should you preserve evidence after a break-in?
Touch as little as possible until the police have assessed the scene. Doors, windows, cabinets, tools, surfaces and discarded items may all hold useful evidence.
- Do not tidy broken glass, repair locks or wipe surfaces.
- Do not open a cabinet simply to check its contents unless the police direct you.
- Save doorbell, alarm and CCTV footage before it is overwritten.
- Write down times, noises, descriptions and vehicle details while they are fresh.
- Keep relevant messages, alarm alerts and photographs in their original form.
- Ask for the crime reference number and contact details for follow-up.
If the event is discovered after the intruder has left and there is no immediate danger, use the police reporting route appropriate to the circumstances, such as 101 or the force's online service. Make clear from the beginning that the premises contain or may contain firearms.
How should you check whether firearms or ammunition are missing?
Make the check with police agreement and compare each item against certificates and current records. Do not rely on a visual glance or memory.
Check firearms, shotguns, moderators and other certificate-controlled components by description and serial or unique identifying mark. For Section 1 ammunition, compare the physical stock with acquisition and use records so that any likely quantity missing can be reported accurately.
Also confirm the location of firearm and shotgun certificates, cabinet keys, spare keys and access codes. A stolen certificate or key is a significant security issue even if no gun appears to be missing.
Prepare a factual list with three headings: confirmed present, confirmed missing and not yet verified. Update the police when uncertain items are found rather than presenting estimates as facts.
When must you notify firearms licensing?
Notify the chief officer who granted the certificate as soon as reasonably practicable when a certificate, firearm, shotgun or relevant ammunition has been stolen or lost. The outside limit stated in the certificate conditions is seven days.
The Home Office circular on theft and loss notification confirms the requirement for events in Great Britain. An emergency or crime report does not remove the need to contact the firearms licensing department that issued the certificate.
Record when, how and to whom the notification was sent. Keep the acknowledgement, incident number and crime reference together. If your certificate was issued by a different force from the one investigating the burglary, make sure both have the correct references.
What should you do with firearms that remain?
Do not continue using compromised storage without agreement from the police or firearms licensing department. A cabinet can look intact while its fixings, lock, wall or concealment have been weakened.
Ask for urgent advice on temporary arrangements. Depending on the circumstances, a registered firearms dealer or another lawfully authorised certificate holder may be able to store firearms, but possession, certificate authority, entries and notifications must be handled correctly.
Do not move firearms to a friend, workplace, vehicle or hotel simply because it feels safer. The new holder and location must be lawful, and transport must use reasonable precautions for safe custody.
If the police remove firearms for safekeeping, request a clear receipt listing the firearms, accessories, ammunition and documents taken. Keep it with the incident records.
Will the police review your firearms security?
A security review is likely when an address has been targeted or existing measures have been defeated. The purpose is to assess current risk and decide what proportionate improvements are needed.
The Home Office Firearms Security Handbook says risk assessment may consider local property crime, remoteness, occupancy, storage location, firearm type, number held and whether storage is generally known. It also describes security in layers: perimeter, building shell and the interior protection around the firearms.
Be accurate and cooperative. Provide the cabinet specification, installation details, key-control arrangements and information about alarms or cameras when requested. Do not conceal a weakness or rush into buying equipment before the firearms enquiry officer has assessed the incident.
How should you improve security after an attempted break-in?
Improve the route the offender exploited and review the whole security system. One stronger lock may not solve weaknesses in doors, windows, key control, cabinet concealment or daily habits.
The Home Office handbook says a suitable gun cabinet is normally the core Level 1 measure for most homes. It should be fixed to the structure and located to frustrate attack or identification by casual visitors, while keys and access remain securely controlled.
Depending on the reassessed risk, improvements may include:
- repairing doors, frames and windows to suitable security standards;
- replacing damaged cabinet fixings or installing a suitable approved cabinet;
- changing locks and access codes when keys may have been copied or stolen;
- adding an appropriate alarm, lighting or camera coverage;
- storing bolts or other removable components separately where advised;
- reducing how widely the storage location or firearm ownership is discussed.
BASC also provides practical firearms security advice for certificate holders. Local police directions take priority because the appropriate measures depend on the property and individual risk.
What records should you keep after the incident?
Keep one chronological incident file that links the crime report, firearms notification, inventory and remedial work. A consistent record prevents dates and serial numbers becoming separated across emails, notes and invoices.
| Record | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Incident timeline | Shows discovery, emergency calls, police attendance and later actions. |
| Inventory reconciliation | Identifies what is present, missing, recovered or held by police. |
| Police and licensing references | Links the criminal investigation with certificate administration. |
| Photographs and video | Supports police, insurer and repair evidence when lawfully retained. |
| Receipts and invoices | Records temporary storage, repairs and security upgrades. |
| Communications | Shows advice received, notifications sent and acknowledgements. |
Store sensitive records securely. Avoid putting firearm serial numbers, certificate details or cabinet information into an unprotected shared folder or ordinary family group chat.
Should you contact your insurer?
Contact the relevant home or specialist shooting insurer promptly and follow the policy's notification conditions. Give the crime reference and an accurate list of affected property, but do not delay the police or licensing notifications while waiting for an insurer.
Keep damaged property until the police and insurer say it may be disposed of. Photograph repairs before and after the work, and retain invoices for doors, locks, cabinets, alarms and temporary storage.
How can accurate shooting records help after a burglary?
Accurate records shorten the time needed to establish what is missing and reduce the risk of reporting the wrong serial number or ammunition quantity. They also help the owner explain recent lawful transfers, loans or dealer storage.
Review the inventory whenever a firearm is acquired, disposed of, lent, returned or placed with a dealer. Keep the digital record current and maintain any certificate entries and police notifications required by law.
An inventory is not a substitute for secure storage, but it is an important part of a responsible incident response. After a stressful event, reliable information is far safer than recollection.
What should your first 24-hour checklist include?
The exact sequence will follow police directions, but a short checklist helps prevent important administrative steps being missed.
- Protect people and call 999 if danger is immediate.
- Tell police that firearms may be present and preserve the scene.
- Save CCTV, alarm and witness information.
- Reconcile firearms, ammunition, certificates and keys with police agreement.
- Obtain the crime reference and record the attending officers' details.
- Notify the issuing firearms licensing department promptly if anything is stolen or lost.
- Agree lawful temporary security for remaining firearms.
- Contact the insurer and begin a single incident file.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I enter my home if I suspect a burglar is still inside?
No. Move to safety and call 999. Tell the operator that firearms may be stored at the address, follow police instructions and do not confront an intruder or enter simply to inspect the cabinet.
How quickly must a stolen firearm be reported?
Report the crime immediately through the appropriate police route. The certificate holder must also inform the chief officer who issued the certificate as soon as reasonably practicable and, in any event, within seven days of the theft or loss in Great Britain.
Does calling 999 automatically notify firearms licensing?
Do not assume it does. The emergency report starts the operational response, while the certificate condition requires notification to the chief officer who granted the certificate. Contact the issuing firearms licensing department and retain evidence of that notification.
What if only my firearm certificate was stolen?
A stolen or lost firearm or shotgun certificate must also be reported to the issuing chief officer as soon as reasonably practicable and within seven days. Tell the investigating police, protect the remaining firearms and follow licensing instructions for replacement documents.
Can I move my remaining guns to a friend's house?
Only if the arrangement is lawful and authorised for the people and firearms involved. Contact the police or firearms licensing department first, because transfer, certificate entry and notification requirements may apply and the friend's storage must be suitable.
Should I repair a broken door before police arrive?
Normally, preserve the scene and wait for police instructions because the door may contain evidence. If an urgent action is needed to protect people from an immediate hazard, follow the emergency operator's directions and record what was changed.
Will an attempted break-in affect my firearms certificate?
The police may review the incident, your security arrangements and current risk. An attempted burglary does not automatically determine the outcome, but certificate holders should cooperate, provide accurate records and complete proportionate improvements agreed with firearms licensing.
What should I record after a firearms-related burglary?
Record the timeline, crime reference, police contacts, licensing notification, inventory findings, missing serial numbers, ammunition quantities, temporary storage, insurer details and security work. Keep all acknowledgements, receipts and evidence in one secure incident file.
Should I post details of the burglary on social media?
No. Public posts can expose firearm ownership, storage arrangements, police activity and weaknesses at the property. Share information only with the police, firearms licensing, insurer and trusted professional advisers who need it.