Today I received a press release from an insurance company which made me realise I have been very lax about my security. The article raised the point that most people do not change their locks when they move into a new home. I never even thought about it when we moved recently.
When one buys or rents a house we tend to put a higher value on a property with good security like a secure complex or beams and armed response but then we completely forget the risk that there could be people out there with keys to our front door.
It made me feel a bit better knowing that I am not the only one who did not consider this rather large breech in security with a survey by UK insurer Direct Line showing that 63% of Britons did not change the locks when they moved into their current property.
In addition, over 70% left spare keys with family members and 5% gave keys to tradesmen.
Apart from opening myself to a potential robbery, my insurance company may take issue with a claim.
Helen Szemerei, CEO at IntegriSure, says that while an insurance company is unlikely to repudiate a claim on the basis that someone didn’t change their locks upon moving in, a problem that arises is proving that there has been a burglary if there is no sign of forcible entry.
She says other simple security mistakes made by home owners include leaving windows open or hiding a spare key in an accessible place near the house. It is still very common for people to leave a spare key somewhere in the garden, such as under a flowerpot or a doormat. This is astonishing when one considers that people spend vast sums of money on high-tech security features such as security lights, home CCTV systems, burglar bars and deadlocks.
And yes, I have to admit I have done that before too.
So the financial tip for this week is to think about security and also to remember to switch your alarm on when you go out otherwise your insurance cover may not be valid.
Read more news, blogs, tips and Q&As in our Smart Money section. Post questions on the site for independent and researched information