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NEWS RELEASE
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AAA Offers Tips on How to Safeguard a Home while Away on a Holiday Vacation
TAMPA, Fla. (Dec. 12, 2011) — Millions of Americans will leave their home in the coming weeks to spend the holiday with friends and family, and while everyone finalizes their travel plans and preps their vehicle for a road trip, many may forget to safeguard their home while their away. Burglars look forward to this time of year as much as anyone else, since they know more homes will be vacant than any other time of the year.
“Without realizing it, many families leave their home vulnerable to burglaries when they leave for their holiday vacations,” said Angie LaPlant, AAA insurance spokesperson, The Auto Club Group. “Homeowners should take every precaution possible to ensure their home looks lived-in while they are away and make an inventory of any big ticket items in case a theft occurs and they need to file an insurance claim. If anyone has questions about what is and isn't covered in the event of a home burglary, it's recommended they contact their insurance agent.”
A standard homeowner’s insurance policy typically covers furniture, electronics, sports equipment, and other personal items if they are stolen. Most companies provide coverage up to 70 percent of the amount of insurance carried on the structure of a home. For example, someone with $100,000 worth of insurance on the structure of their home would have between $50,000 to $70,000 worth of coverage for their belongings. It's important to note that jewelry, fine art, firearms, and other high-value items may have limited amounts of coverage.
Tips to Protect Your Home from Burglars this Holiday Season
- Make your house look lived-in while on vacation. Put timers on a few lights at various times and set one up to a talk-radio station to make it seem as though people are in the house.
- Make sure to stop your newspaper and/or mail so it doesn’t pile up. Ask a neighbor to pick up your mail and newspapers so they don’t pile up in your front yard. If a neighbor is not an option, simply call the post office and/or newspaper and ask them to put a stop on delivery.
- Walk around your home and make sure all doors and windows are tightly secured. Check to see if there is any “wiggle room” that could allow a thief to pry open a window or door. Also make sure there is nothing around your home that can be used to climb to upper floors.
- Don't announce your vacation in a voice mail, email, or a social media platform. While it’s important to let a neighbor know you will be away to keep an eye on your home, don’t broadcast it online or in a voicemail where strangers will be able to learn when your away, making it easier for them to time a burglary.
- Don’t put your home address on luggage tags. This gives a potential thief the address of your home and a confirmation you won’t be there. Simply put your name, phone number, and/or email address on luggage tags for contact purposes.
- Contact your insurance agent prior to leaving for vacation. If anyone has questions about what's insured in their home, it's best to contact your insurance agent before a trip to discuss deductibles and coverage limitations.
The Auto Club Group (ACG) is the second largest AAA club in North America. ACG and its affiliates provide membership, travel, insurance and financial services offerings to approximately 8.5 million members across 11 states and two U.S. territories including Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Michigan, Nebraska, North Dakota, Wisconsin, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands; most of Illinois, Minnesota and Tennessee; and a portion of Indiana. ACG belongs to the national AAA federation with nearly 53 million members in the United States and Canada and whose mission includes protecting and advancing freedom of mobility and improving traffic safety.