Homeowners leaving their houses unoccupied during the summer need to increase security to ensure there are no unwanted surprises on their return, according to Abbey National Insurance.
According to the British Crime Survey of 2001/2002 there were 991,000 attempted or successful burglaries in England and Wales, of which almost half involved the loss of property. The average loss in a domestic burglary was £1,883, a worrying increase of 47% compared to 2000.
Worryingly, fewer than half (48%) of the burglaries were covered by insurance. This means that almost 200,000 of the burglaries involving loss of property weren’t covered and with an average loss of £1,883, the potential uninsured loss was £367 million. Cash is still the most commonly stolen item (34%), followed by jewellery (27%), CDs, tapes, videos and DVDs (22%), stereo/hi-fi equipment (20%) and video recorders (17%).
Lloyd Wilson, Abbey National’s head of insurance marketing, said: “As part of your holiday preparations, it is important to check your home insurance provides adequate cover for all your valuables. It is also worth taking out the 'contents away from home' option which will cover the belongings you take on holiday.
“Whether going away on holiday or just leaving windows and doors open in the summer weather, be extra vigilant and take simple precautions to protect your possessions. Half of properties are occupied when a burglary takes place, so take care even when you’re at home.”
