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How to keep your home secure<br />
Thousands of homes are being broken in to every year – often in plain view,<br />
during the day. Burglaries can often happen through an unlocked window, back<br />
door or front door.<br />
So what are offenders looking for when they target a home? The most common<br />
items stolen are (in order) cash, laptops, jewellery, cameras, mobile phones,<br />
wallets/handbags, ID documents (especially credit cards), TVs, computer or video<br />
games, watches, video/DVD players, power tools and stereo/audio equipment.<br />
Thankfully there are several things you can do to keep these items – and your<br />
home – safe, not only during summer but all year round. Here are our top tips:<br />
1. Think like a burglar<br />
Take a walk around your property through the eyes a thief. Do all the locks work?<br />
Are there good places to hide for burglars should they be disturbed? Is your spare<br />
key hidden in an obvious place? When you know your property’s weak spots, you<br />
can look at ways of reinforcing them. Don’t forget to check the garage, shed and<br />
laundry doors and windows; you might find a lock you didn’t even know was broken.<br />
2. Invest in security systems and alarms<br />
A study of police detainees by DUMA (Drug Use Monitoring in Australia) 2 found that<br />
the best deterrent for would-be burglars is a noisy dog on the property, with 61.4%<br />
saying this would deter them from attempting a break-in. But if you don’t have a dog,<br />
don’t fear: a functioning alarm system would deter one in two offenders (49.1%),<br />
while sensor lights would stop more than one in five (22.8%) burglars in their tracks. 2<br />
3. Maintain your home while on holidays<br />
A home that appears vacant is more attractive to burglars, but there are several<br />
things you can do to make your home appear lived in. First, make sure your<br />
garden is maintained: an unkempt yard is an obvious indication that a house may<br />
be empty. Secondly, hide your valuables so as not to advertise the items you have<br />
that are worth stealing. Thirdly, ask a trusted friend or family member to keep an<br />
eye on your property while you’re away and collect your mail.<br />
4. Upgrade Your Home’s Lighting<br />
Motion-activated or timer lighting can make your house look more ‘lived-in’,<br />
whether you’re at home or not. A well-lit house is far less attractive to a criminal<br />
than a dark one. This tip is an oldie but a goodie when it comes to security<br />
technology and an affordable addition to help deter intruders.<br />
5. Check your insurance<br />
Should your home be broken in to the last thing you want to worry about is<br />
whether your insurance is adequate. Home and contents insurance will normally<br />
cover you for home theft or attempted theft. However, make sure you read the<br />
Product Disclosure Statement to know what you are covered for and what terms,<br />
conditions and limitations apply to your policy. After Christmas, be sure to review<br />
your home and content insurance to make sure any new gifts are added to your<br />
policy. Finally, be sure to take photographs of valuable items such as jewellery,<br />
watches and electronic devices, which will help should you need to make a claim.<br />
Police Bank offer Home & Contents Insurance through Allianz 3 . For more<br />
information or to receive an online quote, visit www.policebank.com.au<br />
(www.customsbank.com.au for Customs Bank Members)<br />
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