Three items that aren't safe from theft in your own home

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.