Short answer: Stay calm and don't go inside yourself if you suspect a burglary. Check your camera or ask someone nearby to take a look from outside. If you see or hear a break-in happening, or suspect the burglars are still nearby, call 112. Afterwards, report it to the police and notify your insurer.
Our solution
Know straight away what's going on
When the alarm is triggered, ShieldLink® sounds the siren and sends a notification to your phone, without a subscription. With the Neroo® Cam in the same app, you can see what's happening right away.
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Step-by-step plan when you get an alert
You're at work or out and about when your phone shows an alarm notification. What now? An alarm system without a monitoring centre alerts you, and then it's up to you. This step-by-step plan tells you what to do:
- Stay calm and check the notification. Look at what was detected and whether someone else could be at home, such as a housemate, the cleaner or a babysitter.
- Take a look. If you have a camera, check the live view. That way you can quickly see whether something is really wrong or whether it's just the cat, for example.
- See or hear a burglar? Call 112. If you see a break-in on the camera, or suspect the burglars are still nearby, call 112 immediately.
- Nothing to see? Have someone check from outside. Ask a neighbour or relative who lives nearby to go round and check from outside for open doors or broken windows, without going in.
- Don't go in on your own. If you see signs of a break-in, stay outside and call the police. The ANWB (the Dutch motoring and travel association) gives the same advice.
- Follow up. If it was a false alarm, switch the alarm off and find the cause. If there has been a burglary, follow the steps further down.
Look first, then act: with a camera in the same app as your alarm, you can see within a few seconds whether something is really wrong. If in doubt, don't go inside yourself.
When should you call 112?
The Dutch police are clear: call 112 if you see a burglary in progress or a suspicious situation. That also applies if you see it happening live on your camera. If the burglary is already over, call 112 if you suspect the burglars are still nearby.
Not urgent, for example because you only discover the burglary afterwards and the burglars have gone, or do you want to report it? Then call 0900-8844 (the Dutch police non-emergency number).
When you call, describe as precisely as possible what you see or have seen: the address, what is happening and what the people look like. Keep the camera footage so you can hand it over to the police.
You're at home when the alarm goes off
Does the alarm go off at night while you're at home? Don't confront anyone. Stay in one room with the rest of your household, call 112 if you think someone is inside and wait for the police. Meanwhile, the siren makes sure the neighbourhood hears it.
It was a false alarm
If nothing turns out to be wrong, switch the alarm off and find out what triggered the alert. Common causes:
- A pet walking past a motion sensor. Pay attention to where your sensors are placed and which way they face; also read where to mount a motion sensor.
- A window or door that wasn't properly closed and moved in the wind.
- A housemate or visitor who forgot to disarm the alarm.
Let your neighbours know it was a false alarm. That way, they'll keep paying attention next time too.
There's been a burglary: what now?
- Don't touch anything: don't clear up the damage yet and wait until you have spoken to the police. The police will try to secure any evidence.
- Report it to the police: call 0900-8844 to file a police report. Have your camera footage and a list of what is missing to hand.
- Block: block stolen bank cards and the SIM cards of stolen phones.
- Take photos: photograph the damage once the police have finished.
- Insurer: report the burglary to your insurer as soon as possible. According to the ANWB, the official police report is an important document for this, together with your photos and an overview of what has been stolen or damaged.
- Support: a burglary can have a big impact. Slachtofferhulp Nederland (Victim Support Netherlands) helps victims and witnesses.
How your alarm system helps
Neroo's ShieldLink® alarm system is designed to let you know quickly what is happening, without a subscription:
- Siren: when the alarm is triggered, the siren sounds so that burglars and neighbours hear it.
- App notification: you receive a notification on your phone straight away, wherever you are. You can also control the system remotely in the app.
- Text message and call: the Pro and Elite panels have a SIM card slot. With a SIM card, you also receive a text message or call when the alarm goes off, even if the Wi-Fi or power at home fails. The Pro panel can then also be controlled with SMS commands.
- Live view: the Neroo® Cam works in the same app, so you can check the live view as soon as you get an alert. The BellMate video doorbell shows you who is at the door.
You can read how the system works technically in how a wireless alarm system works. Going away? Also take a look at how to secure your home when you go on holiday.
Overview by situation
| Situation | What do you do? |
|---|---|
| Alert, but you see nothing unusual | Check your camera, ask someone nearby to look from outside |
| You see or hear a break-in happening | Call 112 immediately and keep the footage |
| You come home and see signs of a break-in | Stay outside and call the police: 112 if the burglars may still be nearby, otherwise 0900-8844 |
| You're at home and the alarm goes off | No confrontation, stay with your household and call 112 if someone seems to be inside |
| False alarm | Switch off the alarm, find the cause, let the neighbours know it was nothing |
| There's been a burglary | Touch nothing, report it via 0900-8844, block cards, notify your insurer |
So what should you do when your alarm goes off?
First find out what's going on via your camera or someone nearby, don't go inside yourself, call 112 if you see or suspect a break-in, and afterwards report it to the police and notify your insurer.
Our solution
Know straight away what's going on
When the alarm is triggered, ShieldLink® sounds the siren and sends a notification to your phone, without a subscription. With the Neroo® Cam in the same app, you can see what's happening right away.
Explore the options
Frequently asked questions
Can I call 112 when my alarm goes off?
Call 112 if you see or hear a break-in happening, for example live on your camera, or if you suspect the burglars are still nearby. If you don't yet know what's going on, check your camera first or have someone look from outside.
Should I go and check myself when my alarm goes off?
You can look from outside, but don't go in if you suspect a burglary. If you see signs such as an open door or a broken window, stay outside and call the police.
What do I do in the event of a false alarm?
Switch off the alarm, find the cause, such as a pet, a window that wasn't properly closed or a housemate who forgot the alarm, and let your neighbours know it was nothing.
How do I report a burglary to the police?
Call the police on 0900-8844 (the Dutch police non-emergency number) if it isn't urgent. Don't clear up the damage before you have spoken to the police, so that evidence can be secured.
What does my insurer need after a burglary?
Report the burglary as soon as possible. According to the ANWB, the official police report, photos of the damage and an overview of what is missing or damaged are important.
Sources and references
- Politie (Dutch police), Call 112 if you see a burglary in progress — accessed September 2026
- Politie (Dutch police), My home has been burgled. What now? — accessed September 2026
- Politie (Dutch police), Tips to prevent burglary — accessed September 2026
- ANWB (Dutch motoring and travel association), What should you do after a burglary? And how does your home insurance help? — accessed September 2026
