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. In this post, we'll give you some tips on how to protect your home against a break-in.

Prevention Tips

Follow this advice so you can avoid being the victim of a burglary:

• Make sure your garage door is closed at all times
• Ensure your doors are locked even if you are home
• Try to keep your kids' toys and bikes out of the front yard
• Make sure your windows and sliding glass doors are locked, especially at night
• Keep valuables out of sight in your vehicle
• Try to avoid holding on to a lot of cash
• Look into theft-prevention programs sponsored by your local police department
• Install a security system

If You Are a Victim

If you do your best to prevent break-ins 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