Senior Claims Manager Tim Downes says: "When it's warm outside people often leave windows and doors open to keep cool, but many don’t realise that burglaries often happen while the homeowners are at home, as opportunist burglars reach in through open doors and windows to grab whatever they can. Small items such as jewellery, wallets, car keys, and smartphones are particularly at risk. We'd recommend people close windows when they are not in the room and lock their front door when they are out in the back garden."
Homeowners are also laving themselves at risk of theft from the garden itself. According to the Lloyds Bank Insurance Britain at Home Report, homeowners spent an average of £318 on their gardens last year, with parents spending more at £380 on average. Despite this, 41% say they don’t have secure locks on their gardens, 22% say items left outdoors are uninsured, and a further 16% are unsure whether their outdoor items are insured.
Lloyds Bank Insurance recommends homeowners take the following steps to ensure they don’t give burglars an open invitation to steal their valuables this summer:
Lock the front door when out in the garden
Keep windows closed when not in the room
Don’t leave valuables within easy reach or visible through windows
Mark your property with an ultra violet pen to help police trace it if it is stolen
Keeping receipts of valuables can help in the event of a claim
Consider installing a safe for small valuables such as jewellery, watches and credit cards
Fit visible, key operated window and door locks and keep them locked, particularly on the ground floor of properties.
Don’t leave keys hidden outside as most burglars know where to look
Install a burglar alarm in a prominent place and always set it at night and when leaving the property empty.
