How to help keep your home and belongings safe from burglary and theft this winter.
As temperatures start to drop, soup season begins. But falling temperatures can also mean rising cases of theft and burglary, according to Allianz Home Insurance claims data from 1 January 2020 to 31 December 2022. Here’s what to look out for and steps you can take to help safeguard your home and belongings this winter.
Why burglars are active in winter
During 2020-2021, there were 179,400 attempted break-ins and 171,600 people experienced actual break-ins, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). In the winter months, burglars are more likely to take advantage of the following:
Longer, darker evenings
More hours of darkness for thieves. As burglars don’t like to be seen, the longer, darker evenings provide them with more cover to sneak around.
Empty homes
People might decide to take a short holiday and escape some of the cold weather, which leaves empty homes for burglars to choose from. This means burglars have more time to break in and search for valuables.
Unlocked doors and windows
Feeling cosy at home may lull you into a false sense of security. Most break-ins happen because of unlocked doors or windows. Many burglars are opportunists who are happy to slip in and out of your home in a few seconds, with your car keys. Meanwhile, you may be relaxing on your sofa, listening to a true crime podcast or enjoying a heist movie.
What you can do to lessen the risk of a burglary
There are a few things you can do to help keep your property safe this winter.
Secure your property when you’re home or away
Always lock doors and windows when your leave the house and before you go to sleep at night. According to Neighbourhood Watch, burglars are fond of unlocked side and rear doors and windows. Locking screen doors and closing shutters can help make life difficult for thieves and deter those looking for easy access.
Also, consider locking any gardening or DIY tools in a shed or garage to prevent someone using them to gain access to your home.
Don’t leave a key under the mat, under a flowerpot, or anywhere that’s accessible. Always leave keys with a trusted friend, neighbour or family member.
When you’re going away for a couple of weeks on holiday, be careful who you tell about your trip, including what you share on social media. If you have family or friends nearby, or good neighbours, ask them to check on your home while you’re away. It’s also a good idea to ask someone you trust to collect your mail. You can always bring them a thank you gift from your holiday.
Keep valuables out of plain sight
Be mindful about what’s on view just in case someone’s watching your home. You should keep anything of value, including the good china, out of public view. According to the ABS, during 2019–2020 the most commonly stolen types of property were: personal items such as jewellery and clothing (20%), bicycles or sporting equipment (18%), money, purses or wallets (16%) and tools (15%).
If you’re a tradie, having your tools stolen could affect your cash flow. It could also leave you out of pocket. You might want to consider if our Business Insurance Pack is right for you. You can choose from 12 covers, including General Property Insurance. It covers your portable tools and the equipment you use to run your business, so you can get replacements – and back to work – as soon as possible. We also offer Theft Insurance for your contents and stock at a specific premises.
You might also want to rethink storing keys in a key box. Labelled keys could be very useful for a burglar. And if they have your car keys, they may even make off with your valuables in your own car.
Consider additional security
According to the police, investing in additional security measures for your home is worthwhile. There are plenty of options to suit all budgets, such as lights that are activated by sensors, security screen doors, additional deadlocks, alarms and even CCTV. If you have expensive jewellery or watches, a safe might be a good investment too.
Make sure your insurance is up to date
If you’ve upgraded your laptop recently, you may need to upgrade your insurance coverage too. It’s a good idea to review your Home Insurance regularly to make sure all your items are covered. Keeping photos of your valuable items could be useful if you do have to make an insurance claim.
Do you have any new portable items, such as mobile phones, jewellery and bicycles? If so, you might want to consider adding optional Portable Contents cover to your Allianz Home Insurance policy.
Since you took out your policy, you may have improved security measures around your home by installing alarms, additional locks and deadlocks, and lockable bolts on your windows. Improving the security of your home may help keep your home and family safer. You should inform your insurer of any changes you’ve made to your property, and it could also help lower the costs of your insurance premiums.
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Disclaimer
This article has been prepared by Allianz Australia Insurance Limited ABN 15 000 122 850 AFSL234708 (“Allianz”). In some cases, information has been provided to us by third parties and while that information is believed to be accurate and reliable, its accuracy is not guaranteed in any way.
Any opinions expressed constitute our views at the time of issue and are subject to change. Neither Allianz, nor its employees or directors give any warranty of accuracy or accept responsibility for any loss or liability incurred by you in respect of any error, omission or misrepresentation in this article.
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