Theft And Home Insurance

By Author: Foster Carr
Total Articles: 30
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It is almost impossible to make your home completely theft proof, but there are lots of things you can do to minimise the chances that you will be targeted. A suitable home buildings and contents insurance policy will protect you against the cost of replacing or repairing anything that is stolen or damaged, but some things may be irreplaceable to you because of their sentimental value. The best way to prevent your home from being targeted by burglars is to make sure that yours is not an easy mark for the opportunist thief.

To make your home as secure as possible, make sure that you lock your doors and windows and use your burglar alarm if you have one. Even if you are at home, thieves could walk through an open door and take car keys or a handbag before you even knew they had been in, so dont leave valuables by the door where they can be snatched.

Its also worth remembering that if you are out and your bag is stolen with your keys in it, if you have letters with your address in the bag then the thief has access to your house. Avoid carrying your address with your keys, and if you have and your bag is stolen, change ...
... your locks as soon as possible.

It is also sensible to change the locks when you first move into a new house because the previous occupiers could have kept copies. Think carefully about who you trust with your keys, the workman or neighbour that you leave them with could easily take copies.

Avoid leaving anything outside your house that a burglar could turn into a house breaking tool. Bricks, ladders, spades and even wheelie bins can be used by house breakers to smash or access windows that you may think are secure. Trees or shrubs that make your house difficult to see from the road may make your house particularly vulnerable to burglars who know they can break in without being seen, so consider whether it is worth sacrificing a little privacy to ensure that your home is not attractive to thieves.

Remember that failure to use your existing security measures like locks could invalidate your insurance claim in the event that a burglary did take place. If the worst does happen, contact the police immediately and your insurers as soon as possible.

Your insurance company will require details of anything that has been taken, so it is a good idea to make an inventory of your possessions, perhaps annually, and to keep receipts for any major purchases. This will help you make sure that your insurance policy gives you the right amount of cover and will help the insurance company in the aftermath of any burglary. Photographs can be a simple way of making a record of items like clothes, DVDs and jewellery.

Your insurance company will be have experience of dealing with burglaries and can give useful advice on how to make your home as safe as possible. While it is very important to have home insurance in case you are unfortunate enough to be the victim of a burglar, the best course of action is to prevent it in the first place.

With Kwik Fit Insurance home insurance , your home and your treasured possessions will be well-protected from the unexpected.