Precautions when leaving the house empty during the holidays | UNIVISTA INSURANCE

Precautions when leaving the house empty during the holidays

Precautions when leaving the house empty during the holidays. December is the festive month par excellence. However, it is also when thieves work the most. According to the FBI’s Crime Data Explorer statistics, 8.2% of the robberies that occur in the US take place in December. Paraphrasing the old saying, we could say that “in December, thieves make a killing.”
In 2021, 2,700 break-ins were committed on Christmas Eve and 2,200 on Christmas Day. That is around 1.5 break-ins per minute. Losses from theft are approximately $2,740.
During the holidays, families usually gather in a house or go on vacation to another city. Therefore, thieves spend their time detecting which houses are empty. In the particular case of Florida, during the holidays, theft in properties increases by 10%.
If you are going to be away from home, as a precaution, do not tell your neighbors, only the ones you trust.
Before you leave, check that you have locked everything securely, every window, every door, and whether you have set off any alarms.
Don’t leave your keys hidden anywhere, much less under the doormat. It is where thieves first look.
If you are going to be away for several days, have a trusted neighbor pick up your mail. If the envelopes of letters and magazines protrude from the mailbox, it may be an indication for thieves.
If you have valuables at home, now is the time to use your safe.
Do not fully lower the curtains in the house. Leave some half up. Install one or two smart bulbs and schedule them to come on for a while at night. It can give the impression that there is someone inside the property.
Remember that your homeowner’s insurance covers theft and acts of vandalism. Precautions when leaving the house empty during the holidays.

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