Vandalism and Theft Claims in Florida

Someone breaks in. Copper pipe and wire get stripped. Equipment walks off a job site. A vacant unit gets trashed. Vandalism and theft losses are covered perils on most property policies, but they live and die on paper. The police report, the photos, and the proof of what you owned decide the claim long before anyone talks about price.

Hurricane Isaias left thousands of Florida properties empty and under repair. Nearly 55,000 Isaias claims have been filed statewide. Nearly 8,500 claims closed without payment. About 43,000 claims are still open, per the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation as of October 20, 2026. An empty, damaged building is a target for break-ins, and those owners now face a second claim on top of the storm claim.

If your property has been hit, start with a Free 21-Point Storm Inspection. We document the full loss and tell you plainly where your claim stands. Call 800.511.2240.

The carrier's adjuster works for the carrier

The insurance company's adjuster represents the insurance company. A public adjuster represents you, the policyholder. On a vandalism or theft claim, the carrier questions the loss itself before it questions the price. What was taken. What was damaged. Whether the building sat empty. We build the record that answers those questions first. See the full list on our Claims We Cover page.

Call the police first, then build the paper

File a police report right away and keep the report number. Carriers treat a vandalism or theft claim without a police report as a claim without a foundation. Then work the proof. When the carrier sends a proof of loss form, it sets a deadline, often 60 days, and the sworn statement has to match your documentation. Photos of the property before the loss, receipts, serial numbers, and contractor invoices turn a list of missing items into a documented claim. Smoke and soot from a break-in fire raise the same record questions as our fire and smoke damage page covers.

The vacancy trap, in plain words

Many property policies suspend vandalism coverage after a building sits vacant for a set period, often 60 days. Theft coverage can narrow at the same time. Vacant means no one living or working there and no furniture or stock in place. A storm-damaged home waiting on repairs can drift into that definition without the owner ever hearing the word vacant. The denial letter arrives after the break-in, and it quotes the vacancy clause, not the damage. If your damaged property sits empty, tell us early. How the property is secured, checked, and documented can matter as much as the loss itself.

Copper and equipment theft on commercial sites

Commercial properties take a different kind of hit. Thieves strip copper from rooftop units and electrical rooms, and a building can lose its air conditioning in one night. Construction and renovation sites lose tools, appliances, and materials staged for install. The theft also causes repair damage. Cut lines, torn open units, and water entry after a rooftop unit is stripped can cost more than the metal was worth. A claim that lists only the stolen items leaves that repair damage uncounted.

What to document after a break-in

• Call the police and keep the report number and the officer's name.
• Photograph entry points, damage, and empty spaces where items sat.
• List every stolen or damaged item with receipts or serial numbers.
• Secure the property and keep every invoice for boards, locks, and repairs.
• Pull camera footage before the system records over it.
• Report the loss to your carrier promptly and keep the claim number.

What we do on a vandalism or theft claim

We inspect the property and document the damage and the theft loss together. We match the record to the police report and to your policy. We prepare the proof of loss so the numbers and the paper agree. We meet the carrier's adjuster at your property and follow the claim through to payment. You get one point of contact from the first call to the final check. We represent homeowners and commercial owners across Florida, including Tampa, where Policyholder Advocacy Group is based.

What our work costs

For residential claims, Florida caps the fee at 10% during the first year after a state of emergency declaration. And 10% of nothing is nothing. Commercial claims are not under that cap. Our fee is a percentage of what we recover for you. If we recover nothing, you pay nothing. Without representation, many owners walk away with far less than the loss they documented.

Nathan Sheppard has worked insurance claims for 17 years. Policyholder Advocacy Group represents the policyholder, never the carrier. We present your claim under the terms and conditions of your policy, so you pursue the full amount your policy owes you.

Property hit by vandals or thieves? Start with a Free 21-Point Storm Inspection. We document the full loss and tell you plainly whether you have a claim. Call 800.511.2240.