Burglars Target Middle Class In Semi-Detached Houses

Burglars it seems see a middle class semi-detached house with a Ford Mondeo outside and games consoles on view inside, as a perfect target, more so than more expensive properties with better security.

According to a Halifax Home Insurance study, burglars see a semi-detached house worth around £150,000 as their target. This is down to their belief that bigger houses have more rooms which make it more difficult to find the items they want to take.

Burglars are looking to steal things that are ‘must have’ as that’s what they can sell. Top of the list are games consoles (PS3 and the Nintendo Wii are favourites), followed by mobile phones and jewellery.

Expensive homes are also left as the worry for burglars is the level of security they have.

Whilst burglars consider such as a Porsche 911, BMW X5, Audi R8 or a Range Rover outside as an indication that the homeowner has invested in security, it doesn’t have to be the case.

Security is a key consideration when trying to get the best home insurance cover – both via an alarm system and security lights, someone in a spotlight is unlikely to want to loiter.

As Martyn Foulds, senior claims manager at Halifax Home Insurance comments “There are many ways homeowners can help protect themselves such as keeping ‘desirable’ items out of sight from the front windows, and understanding that even within the home, sensitive items should be kept in a safe and discreet location.

Making sure a house looks occupied, such as leaving a light or radio on, when no one is home can also help”

MoneyHighStreet.com Comment: Whatever property you live in, taking steps to protect it both physically and through such as home insurance is vital.

Do remember though with home insurance, as with any insurance, buying the cheapeast cover isn’t the only criteria to base your purchase on.

Getting the level of cover you need to meet your requirements, at the best price, is what is important – there’s no point having the cheapest cover if when you make a claim you find you’re not covered.