Burglary victims commonly experience immediate shock or panic, fear about the offender returning, sleeping difficulty, reluctance to leave the house unguarded, and a feeling that their home has been contaminated. Police can relieve some of these effects by responding to the call within 30 minutes, adopting a sympathetic approach to the victim, spending time with the victim, explaining police actions to follow, and providing advice for making the home more secure. Following the initial contact, police should maintain a concerned attitude and conduct a thorough investigation. Greater involvement of burglary victims in case processing should include the opportunity to meet with the offender and develop a reparation agreement. Police should routinely collect information relevant to a compensation order, and police prosecutors should make compensation central in every case. Police should also act as a referral source for victim services. A victim liaison officer would be useful in coordinating police victim services. 20 references.