Christmas and New Year tips from broker to protect against
preying burglars
The Christmas and New Year festivities
are not just a time for family and friends to gather round the
tree, it attracts its fair share of unwelcome guests, too. Every
year expensive presents are a tempting lure for burglars and
opportunist thieves.
According to Managing Director
of Towergate Risk Solutions, Jonathan Walker, festive gifts,
will push up the value of home contents significantly. "With
thousands of pounds worth of tempting presents in your home," he
says, "it's essential to not only keep an eye on your locks and
security but also ensure that you have adequate insurance
protection in place."
The majority of home contents policies
automatically offer extra cover at Christmas time, but some do not
- and every year the biggest losers are those who are
under-insured. It's also worth reflecting that your fridge and
freezer will be chock full of expensive food at this time of year,
and a power cut or a break down will spoil more than your Christmas
lunch if you are uninsured.
Christmas is no time to cut back on
your insurance cover, warns Towergate. And nor, it seems, are
January, February and March. Because, according to figures last
year from the Association of British Insurers you have nearly a 20
per cent higher chance of being burgled in the first three months
of the year - there were 97,000 claims in the first quarter of
2008, for instance, compared with 82,000 in the following spring
and summer quarters.
It's important this Christmas to make
sure that you’ve got the full support of a water-tight insurance
policy to provide peace of mind." says Walker
Here then are Towergate's top
tips for Christmas and the New Year:
- Make sure your home contents policy is adequate and gives you
an automatic cover increase for Christmas
- Ensure your Christmas lights are wired correctly. Poor wiring
is a source of many accidents and much damage over the festive
period. If in doubt consult a qualified electrician
- If you are away from home over the holiday, keep valuables
locked up and ask a neighbour to check on your house
- Don't tempt any unwanted guests - keep all presents out of
view
- Try and keep receipts and proof of purchase for all the
expensive presents you give and receive
- If you are away over the festive period ensure your home has
the impression of being occupied to deter any unwelcome
guests.
Media Contacts
Russell O'Connor
Group Communications Manager
Towergate
Mobile: 07760 282586
Email: Russell.o'connor@towergate.co.uk