There are many security devices such as locks, sensors and alarms that can be fitted to help to make our homes more secure from burglars and other criminals. Some devices make householders eligible for preventive device credits that reduce the cost of New York home insurance. There are also some simple common sense steps we can take to prevent information about our movements becoming known to criminals, and that too can make us less likely to be the victim of a burglary.

Be careful about inadvertently giving away information that would be useful to burglars.

•    Be sure to show your house number clearly on the front of your home, but never display your family’s name outside the house on the mail box or apartment buzzer. This could allow burglars to look in the directory for your phone number and call to see if you are at home.
•    Don’t give out information about your household to telephone surveys.
•    Don’t leave a note on the front door to tell your family or delivery person when you will be back.
•    Don’t advertise your absence in your outgoing telephone answering machine message.
•    Avoid newspaper advertisements that indicate your home is unoccupied; if you advertise something for sale and ask people to call after 6pm, criminals will know that you are away from home during the day.
•    Don’t include an address in newspaper announcements such as funeral notices or wedding announcements; burglars can surmise when a house is likely to be unoccupied.

Many burglars will not risk breaking into a home if they think there is a chance that someone will be at home. Avoid making public any information that could be used by burglars. Purchasing New York home insurance is a good way to protect yourself from the consequences of burglary, but being reticent about your movements is a better way to avoid your home being targeted by burglars.
 

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