Which Belongings are Most Vulnerable During a Home Break-In?

Know which household items are targeted by burglars.

If you own a home, then it’s important to understand that your risk for a break-in increases during the month of December.  This is because burglars strike when homeowners leave their homes to travel during the holidays.  Fortunately, there are several steps that you can take to reduce your chances of a home invasion.  For instance, you can protect your home by installing a security system, hiring a house sitter, and securing the right homeowners insurance in Carrollton, Texas.  However, if your security precautions fail, then you can also thwart burglars by protecting the items that they commonly target.  Here are some of the commonly stolen household items and what you can do to protect them.

  • Personal Computing Devices

Laptops and tablets are a favorite with burglars.  Not only are these items portable and therefore easy to grab, but they can also be sold at a good price.  To protect your laptops and tablets, you can secure them with alarms, laptop locks, and warning stickers or labels.  You should also consider concealing your devices or locking them up when they are not in use.  You should also make sure that your personal computing devices are protected by a strong password and encryption software, so if your devices are stolen, the burglars cannot access your sensitive data.

  • Cash and Jewelry

Cash is an easy thing for burglars to take because it is not traceable.  You can protect your cash by keeping purses and wallets out of sight.  If you have a large amount of cash in your home, hide it so burglars cannot find it easily.  Jewelry is another common target for burglars because they can pawn it for money.  Experts recommend locking fine jewelry in a hidden safe to keep it secure.  If you have particularly nice pieces of jewelry, then consider securing them in a safe deposit box at your local bank for added security.

  • Televisions

HD and 4D televisions are becoming popular with burglars because they are valuable, more lightweight than older tv models, and more common in households than ever before.  While you cannot conceal your television, you can make it harder to remove from your home by attaching it to a secure wall mount.  You can also go the extra mile by installing a tracking device on your tv so you can locate it if it is stolen.

This is what you can do to protect commonly stolen household items this winter.  Remember, having the right homeowners insurance in Carrollton, Texas is another way to protect your personal belongings.  For assistance with your home coverage needs, contact the experts at Mike Leonard Insurance Agency.  Our dedicated team is eager to find you the right coverage from one of our many carriers, including: Kemper, MetLife, Nationwide, Travelers, The Hartford, Safeco Insurance, Progressive, and American Strategic Insurance.