Yes, I did contact my insurance company first. Their response was to have an appraisal and try to have receipts (the receipt part would be futile, so an appraisal would be better). Years ago, a bunch of my stuff was stolen in a move across country. Back then, all I had to do was have an A/V friend right up the replacement cost on each item and I was paid that amount. Of course, I had to argue with the insurance company for about a year while they came up with various "deals" to try and make me go away. Eventually, they gave in.
