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 Burglars
who break into your home this summer could steal more
than your jewelry and electronic equipment—they
may also be after your identity.
When you leave on vacation, protect
yourself against a physical or a virtual break-in, warns
the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.).
More burglaries occur in July and
August than in any other month of the year; losses due
to burglaries totaled 3.5 billion in 2004, with residential
burglaries averaging $1,642 according to the FBI.
“Once in your home, a burglar
can easily obtain credit card information, social security
numbers or other identification information by going
over personal documents in a home or stealing the family
computer,” says Jeanne M. Salvatore, senior vice
president and consumer spokesperson for the I.I.I.
Identity theft is one of the most
widespread white collar crimes in the country, according
to the Better Business Bureau, with around 8.9 million
victims last year. The average loss in identity fraud
cases is over $6,000. However, if the fraud involves
a credit card, victims are generally only liable for
the first $50 dollars for each card.
Insurance is available for identity
theft, providing reimbursement to victims for the cost
of restoring their identity and repairing credit reports.
Some companies include it as part of their homeowners
insurance policy. Others sell it as a stand alone policy
or as an endorsement to a homeowners or renters insurance
policy. On average, these policies cost between $25
and $50 for $15,000 to $25,000 worth of coverage. Identity
theft insurance provides reimbursement for expenses
such as phone bills, lost wages, notary and certified
mailing costs and sometimes attorney fees with the prior
consent of the insurer. Some companies offer resolution
or restoration services that will guide you through
the process of recovering your identity.
Standard homeowners insurance policies
provide coverage for theft of personal possessions and
damage to the home caused by the break-in. With replacement
cost coverage, which is only about 10 percent more than
actual cash value coverage, damaged property is replaced
without a deduction for depreciation.
Regardless of how much insurance coverage
you have, it is, of course, better to avoid getting
burglarized altogether. The I.I.I. recommends you follow
these preventive measures to keep your home safe:
* Keep your home well lit. Mount
exterior lights out of reach of would-be burglars in
your yard or on your house. Put indoor lights on a timer.
* Make it time-consuming to break into your home. Dead-bolt
window and door locks can slow a burglar down. You may
also obtain a discount of two to five percent on your
insurance policy for installing these devices.
* Make sure you have strong doors. Outside doors and
frames should be made of metal or solid hardwood and
be at least 1 3/4-inches thick and each door must fit
its frame securely. The best lock will not deter a burglar
if it is installed in a weak door. Garage doors also
need strong locks. If you have a tool shed, keep it
locked since burglars can use to tools and break into
your home.
* Make it noisy to break into your home. Invest in a
burglar alarm. The most effective systems ring at an
outside service, which alerts the police, fire or other
emergency service. A sophisticated alarm system could
result in insurance discounts of 15 to 20 percent.
* Turn off your computer and disconnect it from the
Internet. If you save personal information in your computer,
make sure it is difficult to access. You don’t
want a hacker at work while you are on vacation.
* Keep valuables under lock and key and well hidden.
When possible, do not leave personal documents in your
home office or desk as burglars will know to look for
them there. Put critical documents in a lock box somewhere
else in the house. And, keep copies of important documents
at another location—a relative’s home, for
example. Expensive jewelry should also be hidden in
another room besides the bedroom or in a safety deposit
box at the bank.
As you prepare to leave on vacation
follow these additional steps:
* Have mail and packages picked up,
forwarded or held by the post office. Stop newspaper
deliveries and ask a neighbor to pick-up “throw-away”
circulars.
* Leave blinds or curtains open in their usual position
to make it appear that you are at home.
* Ask a neighbor you trust to keep an eye on your home
while you are away. Make arrangements for your lawn
to be mowed. Only tell people you know and trust that
you are going away.
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