Burglars make homecoming a bad experience

Coming home and discovering that you have been burgled has to be a homeowner’s worst nightmare. Sadly, almost 1 in 10 of us has had that experience, according to research conducted by Churchill Insurance. We don’t even have to have been away for a long holiday, just a weekend break or even a day trip gives the burglar the opportunity needed.

Whilst the old favourites of televisions and stereos are still vulnerable, the savvy burglar nowadays seems to prefer smaller, more easily transported items such as DVDs, CDs, jewellery, cash, credit cards and cheque books.

19% of those surveyed had been unlucky enough to lose family heirlooms and 28% had lost items of sentimental value. Whilst insurance cannot prevent burglary or make up for the loss of items with great emotional significance, at least you should not be left out of pocket as far as the run of the mill items are concerned.

Fortunately, burglary is on the decrease and our chances of being burgled are actually the lowest for twenty years. However, that statistic provides little consolation for the victims and it is well worth considering how you can make the burglars look elsewhere for their target. Burglary is, on the whole, an opportunistic crime, so by making their job a hard one they will hopefully give up and turn their attention elsewhere.

For specific advice on avoiding being burgled and what to do if it happens, see our helpful guide. You will also find information appertaining to specific groups who are more vulnerable than most, for instance students, older people and those moving house.

Comments

Leave your comments

Name:
Email:
Comments:
Please enter the validation code shown

Your email address is required so we can verify that the comment is genuine. It will not be posted anywhere on the site, will be stored confidentially by us and never given out to any third party.