With more homes unoccupied during the holiday season, don’t forget to better protect their homes against burglars. Despite latest Government figures showing falls in many crimes, certain crimes such as domestic burglary, can increase during an economic downturn. In the first quarter of 2009, the cost of burglary insurance claims topped £100 million, making it the most expensive quarter for five years.
The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has joined forces with the Home Office to produce guidance to help people make their homes safer against burglary. Insurance Advice on Home Security sets out:
- Basic security measures to take, which include fitting appropriate locks, property marking and security lighting.
- How to protect the outside of the home, including with intruder alarms.
- Steps to take when the home is unoccupied, such as using light timers.
Nick Starling, the ABI’s Director of General Insurance and Health, said:
“Crime tends to increase during an economic downturn. Insurers are tackling the challenges of the recession, including increases in insurance fraud and arson, to protect honest customers. Yet policyholders can do much to protect themselves – in over a third of cases, burglars gain access through an unlocked door or window. And householders are ten times more likely to become a burglary victim if they don’t have basic security measures in place.
“Low-income households are particularly vulnerable, and least likely to be insured. This is why we are working with the Government and social landlords to promote low-cost tenants insurance. This can provide peace of mind for as little as £1 a week.”
Home Office Minister Alan Campbell said:
“Burglary has fallen nationally by 54% since 1997, but there are always changing patterns in crime. We know that during economic downturns certain crimes face upward pressure, but we are already taking action to tackle this issue head on.
“We have just handed out £5 million of grants from our Safer Homes Fund to help improve security at 45,000 homes across the country, and providing more money and resources to 35 areas to tackle burglary and robbery by cracking down on known offenders. We are also supplying free information packs for the public with money off vouchers on home security devices.”
ABI issues advice to help beat the burglar
With more homes unoccupied during the holiday season, the ABI is reminding homeowners to better protect their homes against burglars. Despite latest Government figures showing falls in many crimes, certain crimes such as domestic burglary, can increase during an economic downturn. In the first quarter of 2009, the cost of burglary insurance claims topped £100 million, making it the most expensive quarter for five years.
The ABI has joined forces with the Home Office to produce guidance to help people make their homes safer against burglary. Insurance Advice on Home Security sets out:
- Basic security measures to take, which include fitting appropriate locks, property marking and security lighting.
- How to protect the outside of the home, including with intruder alarms.
- Steps to take when the home is unoccupied, such as using light timers.
Nick Starling, the ABI’s Director of General Insurance and Health, said:
“Crime tends to increase during an economic downturn. Insurers are tackling the challenges of the recession, including increases in insurance fraud and arson, to protect honest customers. Yet policyholders can do much to protect themselves – in over a third of cases, burglars gain access through an unlocked door or window. And householders are ten times more likely to become a burglary victim if they don’t have basic security measures in place.
“Low-income households are particularly vulnerable, and least likely to be insured. This is why we are working with the Government and social landlords to promote low-cost tenants insurance. This can provide peace of mind for as little as £1 a week.”
Home Office Minister Alan Campbell said:
“Burglary has fallen nationally by 54% since 1997, but there are always changing patterns in crime. We know that during economic downturns certain crimes face upward pressure, but we are already taking action to tackle this issue head on.
“We have just handed out £5 million of grants from our Safer Homes Fund to help improve security at 45,000 homes across the country, and providing more money and resources to 35 areas to tackle burglary and robbery by cracking down on known offenders. We are also supplying free information packs for the public with money off vouchers on home security devices.”
