As the summer months approach, many UK homeowners will be looking forward to warm weather, longer evenings, and time spent abroad. But for all its joys, the season can also be an attractive one for thieves.
Below, our experts have put together a checklist to keep burglars at bay, together with some key considerations for your insurance.
Why are the summer months risky?
Various factors mean your home and car can be at greater risk of theft during the summer months. Reasons include:
Holiday season – The start of the school holiday seasons means many families go away during the summer, leaving homes unattended for extended periods. This can make thefts more likely to be successful.
Increased outdoor activity – Even if you’re not away, bright and hotter days mean you’re more likely to be spending significant time outdoors. Once again, leaving your home unoccupied can leave it vulnerable to theft.
Open windows and doors – Warm weather encourages people to leave windows and doors open for ventilation. Without care, this can provide easy access for burglars to enter your home without forced entry. This is also known as a “walk-in” burglary.
Exposed cars – Like homes, car windows may also be left wound down in the summer to prevent overheating, making them an easy target for thieves. It can also make it easier for thieves to spot any valuables that have been left inside.
Increased foliage cover – although darker evenings can be a driving factor behind winter burglaries, more foliage can have a similar effect. In summer, the presence of bushes and hedges can provide cover for burglars to operate unnoticed.
According to the Office for National Statistics, the average cost of a break-in (opens a new window) to the homeowner is around £4,120 and obviously much higher for high-net-worth properties. This underlines the need for caution when it comes to protecting your home and car during the summer months.
Checklist: keep burglars at bay
Protecting your property doesn’t need to be expensive. Below, we’ve listed a range of measures that can help to deter thieves, or limit the likelihood of a successful theft:
Lock all windows and doors when not in your property
Park your car in a secure location, such as a garage
Install an alarm system at your property, and ensure your car is fitted with an immobiliser
Keep sheds and other outdoor storage locked to keep any valuables safe
Be mindful of potential sight lines, making sure to leave any valuables out of sight in a safe location
Install a video doorbell system to receive alerts when someone approaches your property
Purchase smart plugs to run your lights or appliances on a timer – this can be useful if going out or if you’re away from your property for an extended period
Let neighbours know when you intend to go away, and ask them to keep an eye on your property
Install motion-sensitive security lights to reduce dark spaces and deter potential thieves
Provide a secure location for any packages delivered to your property
Insurance considerations
The conditions on insurance policies can vary from company to company, and between products. For example, more sophisticated products may be ‘warranty free’. That means if you accidentally forget to lock your house, you won't be penalised in the event of a claim.
However, other policies are likely to include more strict conditions, allowing the insurer to reject your claim if you have shown reckless behaviour in relation to your car or property. Other clauses may indicate more specific failures, such as a ‘keys left in car’ or ‘vehicle left unattended’ clause, which exclude claims in these circumstances.
To reduce your chances of being left without cover, it is crucial to get expert advice. Brokers can help you understand your policy and any relevant conditions. If you do need to a make a claim, they can also help you to navigate the claims process, file a claim, and guide you through any disputes that arise.
For more information, reach out to a member of our team.
Further insights are available via our Private Clients (opens a new window) page.
