Coming home to discover that your window has been broken by a vandal is bad enough, but it's even worse when that window is a precious antique. Your antique windows add charm and a sense of history to your home, and you are probably heartbroken to have one broken. The important thing is to remain calm and take control of this unfortunate situation by following these four tips:

Call the Police

It's important to call the police right away so they can document the vandalism in a police report. This will help identify if there is a pattern of vandalism in your neighborhood, and provide the necessary documentation for your insurance company. The police will also ensure your home was only vandalized, and not broken into, giving you much more peace of mind than if you skipped this important step. 

Contact Your Insurance Company

The damage to your antique window should be covered by your homeowner's insurance policy in most cases. You will want to call your insurance agent, and then email or fax any information they ask for, including the police report and photos of the damaged windows. Make sure your insurance agent knows that this was an antique window that was damaged, which will require a specialized repair that may be more expensive than repairing a modern window.

Hire Restoration Glass Experts

A broken antique window can't be repaired by just any glass repair company. Instead, you will need to hire a restoration glass repair specialist who is experienced with repairing antique glass windows. A restoration glass repair expert will do their best to match the antique glass perfectly when they perform the repair, maintaining your window's unique style and charm. A company like Allied Glass & Mirror can give you more help.

Boost Your Home Security

Finally, this is  good time to increase your home security to prevent further acts of vandalism. Adding bright motion-activated LED lights will deter many would-be vandals from lingering around your property. A monitored alarm system and a doorbell security camera will provide you with an added layer of protection, and both can be monitored and controlled remotely from your smartphone. Spend some time tidying up your landscaping as needed, removing overgrown branches and shrubbery that may provide hiding places to criminals. 

Discovering that your antique window has been vandalized is never easy, but by following these tips, you will be able to deal with your vandalized antique window in the best way possible.