Summer vacations may be fun, but they can be costly for those who fail to prepare their home and property adequately.
Burglars see vacations as an opportunity to target empty homes, according to the Insurance Information Institute.
There are more than 2.15 million burglaries each year, over 65 percent of which are residential break-ins. The FBI notes that the summer months of July and August have the highest rates of burglaries, usually about a 10 percent increase over other times of the year.
“Once in your home, a burglar can easily steal computer equipment, televisions, CD and DVD players, as well as jewelry and other valuable items,” Jeanne M. Salvatore, senior vice president and consumer spokesperson at I.I.I., said in a statement. “In fact, the average dollar loss per burglary is over $1,700.”
Criminals tend to be opportunists, Salvatore said. If making a home more difficult to break into, will likely cause the crook to target another home. Research shows that if it takes more than four or five minutes to break into a home, the burglar will go elsewhere.
In addition to having the right insurance coverage, the I.I.I. offers the following preventive measures to keep a home safe:
Make it time-consuming to break into the home. Dead-bolt window and door locks can slow a burglar down. A homeowner might also obtain a discount of 2 to 5 percent on your insurance policy for installing these devices.
Make it noisy to break into the home. Invest in a burglar alarm. The most effective systems ring at an outside service, which alerts the police, fire department and other emergency services. A sophisticated alarm system could result in insurance discounts of 15 to 20 percent.
Make sure the doors are strong and secure. Outside doors and frames should be made of metal or solid hardwood and be at least 1¾-inches thick. Each door must fit its frame securely. Even the best lock will not deter a burglar if it is installed in a weak door. Garage doors also need strong locks. A tool shed should be, keep locked since burglars can use the tools to break into the home.
Turn off computers and disconnect them from the Internet. Make sure any personal information on computers is difficult to access, to keep hackers from using it.
Keep valuables under lock and key and well hidden.
Do not leave personal documents in a home office or desk–burglars know to look for them there. Put critical documents in a lock box or safe somewhere else in the house. Keep copies of important documents at another location, such as a relative’s home. Expensive jewelry should also be hidden somewhere other than the bedroom or left in a safety deposit box at the bank.
Keep a home well lit while away. Mount exterior lights out of reach of would-be burglars in the yard or on the house. Put indoor lights on a timer so that they go on and off at appropriate times, making it look as if the house is inhabited.
Make the house look inhabited. Leave blinds or curtains open in their usual position. Put indoor lights on a timer. If staying away for an extended period, arrange to have the lawn mowed in the summer and your driveway shoveled in the winter.
Arrange to have mail picked up or held by the post office. Stop newspaper deliveries and ask a neighbor to pick-up “throw-away” circulars.
Ask trustworthy neighbor to keep an eye on the home. Consider telling the local police you will be away.
Be careful not to discuss vacation plans at the supermarket or hairdresser or other public places where people may be listening.
Standard homeowners insurance policies provide coverage for theft of personal possessions and damage to the home caused by the break-in. With replacement cost coverage, which is only about 10 percent more than actual cash value coverage, damaged property is replaced without deducting for depreciation.
