From burying valuables in the garden, sewing jewellery into curtains and using decoy doors, Hiscox has seen some householders turning their homes into hidden treasure hunts to try and outwit burglars. Recent examples of unusual security techniques identified by Hiscox include leaving ‘fake' jewellery lying around the home to trick thieves, hanging out washing so the house appears occupied, hiding valuables in shoes and clothing, and making the front door look scruffy in a bid to disguise the value of the content inside.
Whilst some security ideas, such as fake replicas and hoax doors for burglars to try and crack open are particularly inventive, they can backfire. Hanging out clothing, for example, will work against a homeowner when left out for some time, and in one Hiscox claim, a pillbox was accidentally thrown away – the homeowner forgot they had hidden their engagement ring inside.
Andrew Cheney, senior risk and valuation adviser at Hiscox UK, who in his role visits hundreds of homes every year, said: "Homeowners can be quite creative in their attempts at securing their valuables. However, many of their inventive hiding places are quite obvious to most thieves, and there's also the danger of forgetting them. What happens when you take the clothes or shoes you've hidden away your jewellery in to the dry cleaners or have a wardrobe clear out?
"It's far better to prevent thieves from being able to access your home in the first instance. Think of your property with rings of security – from the outer perimeter of your garden and driveway to the inside of your home. There are ways of securing your boundaries and driveway, followed by the main property and outbuildings. Then you can think about added protection for your valuables inside the home. This technique has the effect of wearing an intruder down."
Hiscox offers the following tips to householders to help them create rings of security around their property, from the outer edge to the contents inside:
1. Your perimeter
Physical barriers such as trees, walls or railings act as a deterrent to criminals and can be supplemented with gravel paths and motion sensitive lighting around the property, so that thieves know that their arrival can be clearly heard and seen.
2. Your building
External doors should be fitted with a deadlock, which should be used even when the property is occupied. On patio doors, a cube lock or key operated bolts should be fitted to prevent them from being lifted or removed. Key operated window locks (in addition to any latches) should be fitted to all vulnerable windows.
3. Your outbuildings
Criminals often target outbuildings looking for valuable gardening and sports equipment. When protecting your home, it is important that security is extended to the outbuildings by adequately protecting all doors and windows. Use padlocks and deadlocks on shed and garage doors and consider painting over windows so criminals cannot see the equipment stored inside.
4. Your valuables
Jewellery, cash and other high value items should be locked away in a safe – even overnight and especially whilst away on holiday. Avoid taking off jewellery and leaving them on bedside tables, in bathrooms or on kitchen work surfaces. It is important that the keys or combination codes are kept secure and away from the safe itself. For particularly high-value items or jewellery that is rarely worn, consider putting them in a safe security box or bank vault. Spreading your items in this way is a sensible precaution to take, as it reduces the total value of goods in your home and could also reduce your premium.
5. Whilst away
Timer-operated lights, window blinds or curtains are a good way of giving the impression that your home is occupied when you're not there. If you're away for a longer period, it's a good idea to arrange for a family member or friend to housesit or visit your home regularly to open and close curtains and pick up post and other deliveries. It may be sensible to tell the local police and your alarm company if you are going to be away for a long time.
For information about Hiscox's home insurance, visit www.hiscox.co.uk/home
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