The more layers of security you have
against the theft of your valuables, the less likely you are to find
yourself in the most unpleasant predicament of trying to replace
items that have been stolen. While having a good insurance policy
gives you a great deal of protection in this regard, there may be
some items whose value to you could never be replaced with any sum of
money. This is why, in addition to the very important aspects of
protection like a reliable alarm system and a comprehensive insurance
plan, prevention is still key. But this can be overwhelming...there
is very little in our possession that we are ambivalent about losing,
so how do we determine where to place our focus? Knowing what items
are most likely to be stolen from your home helps you put those items
at the foreground of your planning, allowing you to give extra
attention. In our experience of dealing with insurance claims, here
are some of the most commonly stolen items:
Computers. Computers,
especially laptops (because of their portability) have been at the
top of this list for some time now. Computers have dual appeal to
thieves: for one, there is the tangible, measurable value of the
hardware itself. In addition to that, there is the value of whatever
information is being stored there. This may include sensitive data
about clients for example. People who are most susceptible to having
their computers stolen are people in any sort of authority, because
there is power to be gained by seizing their stores of information.
For example, it is not uncommon for professors to be the targets of
this crime. Knowing this should help you consider where you use your
computer, and how you protect the information on it.
Money. Money is one of
the most portable, and immediately usable assets that a person could
target, so it is not a good idea to keep large sums of it in your
home—especially for any extended period of time. Sometimes,
however, against your best planning, you may find that you are
temporarily stuck with large sums of cash in your home before you can
get to a bank. It's wise to expect that despite your best efforts to
avoid this, you will find yourself in this situation, and to prepare
accordingly. A safe is one of your best bets in protecting your money
from theft. You especially want to ensure that the safe you use is
not portable, but is anchored to a part of your home in such a way
that it cannot be removed and subsequently broken into.
Identification. This may
be among the most devastating categories of items a person may have
stolen. Among the pieces of identification you may have stolen are:
passports, birth certificates, drivers licenses, health cards, social
security cards, and credit and bank cards. Theft of any or all of
these pieces of identification could have catastrophic consequences
for you. Thieves that target these pieces do this for the purpose of
committing a crime in your name, as well as draining your assets. In
addition to speaking to your insurance provider about identity theft
protection, know the whereabouts of these pieces at all times, and
don't assume they are safe simply because they are in the confines of
your home. Within your home, it is important to have a safe place to
keep them. Here again a safe may be an appropriate solution.
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