Insurance News Home Insurance Vital For Those Who Hide The Jewels Under The Bed 2116
Home insurance vital for those who hide the jewels under the bed
25 August 2008 / by Rachael Stiles
The places where Brits think their most treasured belongings will be safest haven’t changed much over the years, with the most popular secret hiding place being under the bed, but with this being the number one stereotype then maybe people’s things are as safe as they think, Halifax warns.
In fact, a quarter of Brits use stereotypical hiding places such as on top of the wardrobe, under the bed, or in the sock drawer for things like jewellery and other valuables.
Homeowners admit to keeping their valuables in such vulnerable places, despite knowing that these are obvious place for a thief to look; 20 per cent of respondents to the Halifax survey had even been victims of robberies where there was evidence that these places had been ransacked.
David Rochester from Halifax Home Insurance said: “This research is proof we need to get smarter in our thinking on protecting our possessions. Safes are a good idea as this allows your possessions to be locked away. Opening a safe would be time consuming for a thief, or difficult to transport, therefore making the thief think twice about taking it.”
However, there is also evidence to suggest that Brits are becoming more security-conscious, with more than half taking extra security precautions in the last 12 months, such as installing burglar alarms and locks on the windows, and another quarter intend to take such measures in the course of the next 12 months.
Halifax Home Insurance is urging homeowners to check that their valuables are included on their home insurance policy to ensure they are protected. Homeowners could also save money on their premiums whilst keeping themselves safe if they install security measures.
Mr Rochester added: “Our homes and contents are very valuable to us and all steps to protect them should be taken. Burglar alarms, window locks and door chains are all great deterrents. The harder we make it for the thief to gain entry the better. However, on the terrible occasion where they do gain entrance we need to think really carefully on how we can prevent them from locating our favourite possessions.”
© Fair Investment Company Ltd