- 22
- Oct
With the clocks due to go back this coming weekend and nights getting longer, residents need to protect their belongings as opportunistic burglars go on the prowl.
Such is the claim of Halifax, which has warned that there is a 20 per cent rise in the number of burglaries during the winter months, with the average haul at each break-in said to be in excess of 2,000 pounds last year. And the group warned that residents in London, Leeds and Manchester may have particular cause to keep their homes locked up tight after figures showed that these three cities had the highest incidences of burglary in the UK last winter.
In an effort to avoid falling victim to thieves, the firm urged people to follow a number of tips to help make their property less of a target. Principal among these suggestions was hiding valuables in the home, as well as marking all valuable items with an ultraviolet pen to help the police return the valuables should they be recovered. The group also added that home insurance will automatically cover the cost of replacement.
However, for those who lack adequate protection, it is possible that they will have to meet replacement costs with savings or personal loans. This in turn, could have an impact on their ability to keep up with financial responsibilities such as mortgage repayment and utility bills.
For those who wish to avoid such a scenario, Halifax also claimed that investing in a safe can help to keep valuables away from intruders. Meanwhile, in an effort to keep burglars from entering the property in the first place, homeowners were urged to fit strong, visible locks to windows and doors, in addition to investing in an alarm system. Consumers wishing for a way to make such purchases before the winter truly gets underway, taking out a quick loan could be of interest. Such a loan could also be put towards raising walls or planting deep hedges, both of which Halifax recommended.
The firms senior claims manager Martyn Foulds commented: “We tend to see burglary claims start to rise around this time of year - and with the average burglary claim now reaching over 2,000 pounds it is certainly worthwhile taking some simple and cost effective measures to avoid becoming an easy target. Although home insurance will cover any financial loss, some items such as family heirlooms and items of sentimental value cannot be replaced, so its far better to avoid a burglary happening in the first place.”
Meanwhile, for those who are unfortunate to find their homes broken into, Halifax concluded by advising them to report the crime to police and insurers as soon as possible. Earlier this year, Newcastle Building Society also urged people to be more diligent to avoid such a situation arising. The group claimed that more than a tenth (11 per cent) of people admitted to leaving the house without locking the front door.
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