When Your Child Has Been Robbed

Report a robbery to the police, block the phone, and tell your child plainly that it wasn’t their fault.

A two-minute read, three things to try, for ages 11 to 18.

Where to start

Report it to the police, and ring the network straight away to block the phone.
Tell your child it wasn’t their fault, whatever they did at the time.
If your child was holding something for someone, or now owes money, act that day.
If your child has been robbed, check first that they are safe. If it is still happening, or someone is threatening or attacking your child now, call the police. Call 999. Help is free and available at any hour. If your child is badly hurt, or may have taken too much of a medicine, get medical help straight away, even if they seem well. Call 999. Or go to your nearest A&E. Help is free and available at any hour.
Otherwise, report it to the police as soon as you can, online or on the police’s non-emergency number. Robbery counts as a violent crime even when nobody is hurt, and insurers and injury compensation claims both need a police report. Ring the phone network straight away to block the SIM and the handset, and ask for the phone’s IMEI, the number that identifies it, to give to the police.
The tip “In the Weeks After Something Frightening” sets out what helps and when to see the GP.
Victim Support helps young people after a crime, whether or not anyone reports it, and helps parents too; the police should offer to put you in touch when you report.

The rest of the tip, and why it works, is in the library.

Sources

Victim Support, Robbery (2026); Victim Support You & Co, Robbery (2023); Victim Support, Helping your child after a crime: information for parents and carers (2022); Ofcom, Lost or stolen phone (2024); Citizens Advice, What to do if your mobile phone is lost or stolen; Home Office, Criminal exploitation of children and vulnerable adults: county lines (2023)

It goes with

Trauma in Childhood. For parents whose child has been through something hard, or whose family has.
When Your Child Is Being Bullied. For parents whose child has just told them about being bullied.

The first chapter you open here is free to read in full.

Free on this subject

Trauma. What to do first, what helps, and who else can help. Free to read and to print.
Anxiety. What to do first, what helps, and who else can help. Free to read and to print.

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If you need help right now

If you or your child is in immediate danger: 999 · Go to your nearest A&E · 24/7.
If either you or your child is in a mental health crisis: NHS 111 · England, Scotland and Wales: call 111 and choose the mental-health option. Northern Ireland: call Lifeline on 0808 808 8000 · 24/7.
If your child is under 19 and needs to talk to someone themselves: Childline · 0800 1111 · 24/7 · www.childline.org.uk.
If you are worried that a child is being harmed or is at risk: NSPCC Helpline · 0808 800 5000 · Mon-Fri 10am-4pm by phone; email 11am-4pm, seven days a week. An email sent when the service is closed is not received. · email help@nspcc.org.uk · www.nspcc.org.uk/about-us/our-services/nspcc-helpline · If the NSPCC service is closed and the concern cannot wait, call the police on 101. You can also contact the child’s local out-of-hours children’s social care, social work or social services team. If a child is in immediate danger, call 999.
If you would prefer to text rather than speak: Shout · Text SHOUT to 85258 · 24/7 · giveusashout.org.
If you or someone you are worried about needs someone to talk to: Samaritans · 116 123 · 24/7 · www.samaritans.org.

If you need help right now

Published by Kensington Square Therapy. Company No. 16707111. Written by therapists registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and the National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society (NCPS). This page is not therapy, and not a substitute for professional support. The full library is at theparentbook.com.