Do You Need a Police Report to Claim for Theft in Nigeria?

Why underwriters ask for a police report

If your phone, laptop, generator, car or shop stock is stolen and you plan to claim on your insurance, the licensed underwriter carrying your risk will almost always ask for a police report. This is not bureaucracy for its own sake. Theft is a crime, and the report is the underwriter's main evidence that a crime actually happened, when it happened, and roughly what was taken.

Without an official report, an underwriter has only your word that a loss occurred. In a market where fake claims do happen, the report protects honest policyholders too. It keeps premiums fair for everyone by helping underwriters pay real claims quickly while filtering out fraud.

When a police report is required

In practice, expect to need one for:

• Burglary or break-in at your home, shop or office
• Theft of a car, motorcycle or generator
• Snatching or armed robbery involving your phone, bag or valuables
• Any loss where the item was taken without your consent

Some smaller claims, like a scratched fridge or a cracked TV screen from an accident, do not need a police report because there is no crime involved. But once an item is stolen, the report becomes central to your claim file.

How to get a police report quickly

Time matters, both for the police investigation and for your insurance claim. As soon as you notice the theft:

1. Go to the nearest police station in the area where the theft happened, not just your home station.
2. Report the incident and ask for it to be logged in the police diary or extract book.
3. Request a formal statement or extract, this is the document your underwriter will want to see, not just a verbal complaint.
4. Get the name and phone number of the investigating officer, in case the underwriter needs to verify details.
5. Keep a copy for yourself before submitting anything.

Try to do this within 24 to 48 hours of discovering the loss. Delayed reporting can raise questions later, even if the theft itself is genuine.

What if you cannot get a report immediately?

Sometimes reporting is delayed, for example if a theft is discovered days after a trip, or if the nearest station is far and unsafe to reach quickly. If this happens:

• Report as soon as you reasonably can and explain the delay in writing to your underwriter.
• Keep any evidence of when you first noticed the loss, such as a message to a neighbour, security guard or landlord.
• Photograph the scene if it is safe to do so, broken locks, forced windows, disturbed items.

A late report is better than no report. An underwriter is more likely to work with you if you can show you acted honestly and promptly given the circumstances.

Other proof your claim will need

The police report is one part of a bigger picture. Underwriters also want to see proof of ownership and value, which is exactly why keeping records before anything goes wrong matters so much. Useful documents include:

• Purchase receipts or invoices
• Photos of the item, ideally showing serial numbers or IMEI
• Bank or card statements showing the purchase, if receipts are lost
• Any warranty cards or registration documents, for cars and generators especially

If you have logged these details in a vault ahead of time, filing a claim becomes far less stressful, because you are not scrambling to remember what you owned or what it cost to replace.

What happens if you skip the police report

Submitting a theft claim without a police report is one of the most common reasons claims get delayed or declined. Underwriters are not being difficult, they are following standard practice that applies across the industry. If you are ever unsure whether your situation needs a report, it is safer to get one anyway. It costs you a visit to the station, but it protects your claim.

Building good habits before you need them

Nobody wants to think about theft, but a little preparation goes a long way. Keep your receipts, photograph your valuables with their serial numbers visible, and know which police station covers your home, shop or office. If you ever do have to report a theft, you will move faster and with less stress.

Start with a vault, not a scramble

The best time to gather proof of ownership is before anything happens, not after. Start a free vault on VaultCova today, log your valuables with photos and receipts, and when you are ready, talk to Cova about insuring them properly through a licensed underwriter. It costs nothing to log, and it could save you a lot of hassle if the worst happens.