Protect Your Home against Theft

Garage doors left open and unattended, bicycles left in the front yard, doors left unlocked…all of these are fairly common sights in any neighborhood in suburbia. When you see these blatant invitations to steal, it’s no wonder theft is such a common problem among homeowners. It makes you wonder what these homeowners are thinking. Perhaps they are just unaware of the dangers or maybe they’re just naïve. No one ever thinks it could happen to them. Valuable items, like tools, lawnmowers, bicycles, etc., are stolen out of open garages every day. Similarly, some homeowners leave valuable items in their cars, such as CD’s, electronics, purses, etc., that could be snapped up in a heartbeat with a simple jimmy of a lock or the breakage of a window. Small oversights like these can put you at risk for theft. In this post, we’ll give you some tips on how to protect your home against theft.

Prevention Tips

Follow these simple tips to help protect your home and belongings against theft:

• Close your garage door at all times when you’re not around
• Keep your doors locked even if you’re home
• Tell your kids to keep their toys and bicycles out of the front yard
• Lock windows and sliding glass doors, especially in the evening
• Don’t leave valuables in your car or at least not in plain sight
• Don’t keep large amounts of cash on hand
• Talk to your local police…many stations offer free theft-prevention advice
• Install a burglar alarm

If You Are a Victim of Theft

If you do your best to prevent theft and still end up a victim, here’s what to do:

• Contact the police immediately
• File a report with the authorities about what was stolen
• Get in touch with your home insurance agent
• Estimate the value of the items that were stolen
• Review your policy to determine your deductibles and reimbursement schedule

Additional Resources

• Robbery Prevention Tips

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