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Well, you start with your arrival on the scene, even as you're driving there, you're noticing the neighborhood, lighting, shrubbary, general surroundings. You go to the door and get the prelim's from the owners, if they are available. Get a listing of items taken, description, serial numbers, photos if they have them. Find the point of entry. Check it from the outside too, being careful not to step in any tracks left in dirt or mud. Take plaster casts if you can. Take photos of point of entry inside and out. Not likely to find prints as most pros know to glove their hands. Damn cheap latex gloves anyway. Notice any odors and ask the owners. Maybe your perp likes expensive cologne. Take note of any other items disturbed, like a woman's lingerie drawer, shoe closet, perfume missing (maybe your perp has fettishes). Talk to neighbors on both sides, across the street and behind. Canvas the neighborhood asking if anyone has noticed unusual vehicles in the area. Alert everyone there may be a burglar working the area and give them your card.
Advise the victims to prepare to kiss their valuables goodbye, and call their insurance agent. If they were studious in noting serial numbers and taking photos of their valuable there's a chance, but then it's only a slim one. The perp probably fences the stuff somewhere else. Tell them not to get their hopes up.
Most departments don't investigate burglaries too intensely because the chances of recovery are slim unless they've got someone hitting a lot of houses or just happen to get lucky and get someone who gives them a tip on the perp. Pay close attention to the things that were taken. Sometimes the perp has an MO, something that is the same in every job. Something he/she either takes, or leaves behind. Maybe they like to make them a sandwich before leaving the house. Maybe grab a cold one from the fridge. Leave something wierd in the freezer just to freak out the victims at some later time.
Don't forget to stand in the perp's shoes. How did you pick your target? What made that house or office a good one? Poor lighting, too much shrub cover near windows, heavy foliage or trees, habit of owners to leave their garage door up or back garage door unlocked, no dog, windows low to the ground and known not to be locked or left open on cool evenings while they're out to dinner. What did your perp do after he picked the place? How did he prepare? Where was he/she going to take the stuff to fence it? Burgle your own house and see just how tough it is. If he came in through a second-story window, that could be a very important clue. There aren't a lot of second-story men anymore. Unless they're gymnists, or into levitation.
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To know what you prefer, instead of humbly saying "Amen" to what the world tells you you ought to prefer, is to keep your soul alive -- Robert Louis Stevenson
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