Loading views...

Prepping for being a victim of crime checklist

By The SHTF App Team

The trauma therapist drew two timelines on her whiteboard for the new client, a burglary survivor who kept saying he should be over it by now. Trauma causes “cognitive fragmentation.” You might remember the sound of footsteps perfectly but forget to ask for the police report number. Details determine the outcome, missing a single step can cost you thousands of dollars and deny you justice. This checklist is your external brain. By checking the boxes, you regain control, step by step.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for general informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended as, and should not be considered, legal advice. Always call 911 first in an emergency.

The Readiness Audit

  • Green: You have this printed and know which Mission applies to your situation.
  • Yellow: You would remember most steps but have no external brain.
  • Red: You are reading this during the worst hour of your life. Start at Mission 1 and go in order.

Caution: The Golden Hour runs on adrenaline, not judgment. In the first 60 minutes, your only jobs are survival and preservation. Everything else in this document waits.

Mission 1: Immediate response (the first 60 minutes)

Goal: survive and preserve.

  • Secure safety: get to a safe location (car, neighbor, public shop). Lock doors.
  • The “threshold rule”: if you arrive to find a burglary, do not enter.
  • Call for help:
    • Emergency: call 911 if the crime is in progress or you are injured.
    • Non-emergency: call the local station line if the event is over.
  • Preserve evidence:
    • Property: do not clean up glass, touch doorknobs, or tidy the room.
    • Person: if assaulted, do not shower, change clothes, or brush teeth.
    • Digital: do not delete texts or emails. Screenshot everything immediately.

The Takeaway: The body heals on its own schedule, but the scene heals never, so freeze it exactly as you found it.

Mission 2: The documentation bridge (first 24 hours)

Goal: create the official record.

  • Medical triage:
    • Go to ER or urgent care immediately (even for “minor” injuries).
    • Sexual assault: request a SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner) and ask about a “Jane Doe” kit if you aren’t ready to report yet.
    • Photos: take photos of all visible injuries (wide shot and close-up with a coin for scale).
  • Police interaction:
    • Write down the police report number (case number).
    • Write down the officer’s name and badge number.
    • Provide the facts, if unsure, say “I am not sure.” Do not guess.
  • The narrative:
    • Write (or voice record) your memory of the event ASAP (sensory details, timeline, description).

The Takeaway: The record is the case: report number, officer name and badge, and your narrative while the sensory details are still fresh enough to trust.

Mission 3: Targeted protocols (select your track)

Goal: execute the specific steps for your crime type.

Track A: Violent crime (assault, robbery, domestic violence)

  • Advocacy: call a victim advocate immediately (DV hotline: 800-799-7233).
  • Safety plan: work with the advocate to create a safety plan or protective order.
  • Notification: register your number with VINE to be alerted if the offender is released.

Track B: Property crime (burglary, theft)

  • Insurance: call homeowners or renters insurance and provide the case number.
  • Evidence: submit your home inventory (video or photos) to the adjuster.
  • Security: board up broken windows and change the locks immediately.

Track C: Financial and identity crime

  • The kill switch: call bank and credit card fraud departments to close accounts.
  • The freeze: place a credit freeze with Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.
  • The federal report: file a report at IdentityTheft.gov.

Track D: Cybercrime

  • Quarantine: disconnect the infected device from the internet.
  • The FBI: file a complaint at IC3.gov.
  • Sanitize: reformat devices and restore from offline backups (do not pay ransom).

The Takeaway: One crime, one track: the protocols are specialized because misdirected energy causes burnout and lost cases.

Mission 4: Long-term recovery (the first 30 days)

Goal: rebuild your life and finances.

  • Financial support:
    • Search “[your state] crime victim compensation program.”
    • Apply for reimbursement of medical bills, counseling, and lost wages.
  • Emotional support:
    • Contact the local victim witness assistance program (via the DA’s office).
    • Schedule an appointment with a trauma-informed therapist (EMDR or CBT).
  • Follow up:
    • Call the detective assigned to your case after 14 days for a status update.
    • Update the police if you find new evidence or remember new details.

The Takeaway: The first 30 days convert paperwork into support, and the two-week detective call is the hinge between a filed case and a moving one.

Scenario Planner (Contingencies)

“I don’t remember which track I’m on.” The trap: trying to run all four tracks at once while exhausted. The fix: the one-crime rule, pick the track matching the most serious element of what happened to you, execute it fully, then add the others.

“I’m three days past the incident and just found this checklist.” The trap: believing you are too late. The fix: the best-time rule, every unchecked box is still worth checking, and the only step that expires completely is evidence that has already been destroyed.

Next Steps

  1. Re-run the Readiness Audit. Scroll back to the top, answer the three questions honestly, and close whichever gap they reveal before you close this tab.
  2. Print the checklist. The kit list above only works if it exists when the power is out, so paper beats apps here.
  3. Fold it into the family plan. A prepared household beats a prepared person, so put these steps in front of everyone who shares your roof. Start with Part 1: The hard target.

Originally adapted from public DOJ and victim-services guidance (public domain).