By Lana Hollerud

Crime Victims  Resource Center

Entering someone’s home without consent and with the intent to commit a crime (such as theft) is the definition of burglary. It seems that the number of burglaries in our community is up; whether they are happening more frequently or if we just read about it more, being the victim of a burglary has a definite impact on its victims.

The psychological factors for victims of burglary can be even more devastating than the financial loss they have experienced. It is natural for someone who has experienced a burglary to wonder about a lot of “what ifs?” What if I or a family member had been hurt? What if I had double-checked the lock? After a break-in it can be difficult to begin to feel safe in ones own home again.

Children, too, can be greatly affected by a break-in. Young children who were already concerned about ghosts in the closet or under the bed may feel like their worst fears have been realized by the burglar, and it may be difficult to help them feel safe in their home, especially when their parents don’t.

It is important for people who have experienced a burglary to talk about what happened, to explore fully their feelings about their victimization. If you have had this experience don’t allow others to minimize what happened to you by saying it could have been worse; you have been victimized and it is normal to be upset about it. It is also normal to feel anger and to want to blame others (landlord, person who didn’t check the door lock) for the actions of the burglar. Being able to explore all these issues thoroughly with an objective person is critical to being able to recover effectively from the traumatization of the burglary.

The advocates at Crime Victims Resource Center are available for you to speak with about your victimization and how it’s affecting you in a safe, non-judgmental setting. Give us a call, 507 437-6680 if you would like to explore these issues further.