Home Burglaries Climb 4% in Texas
February 19 2009 - 10:20AM
PR Newswire (US)
Open Doors and Economic Pressure Unlock Opportunity for Burglars
IRVING, Texas, Feb. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- The number of home theft
incidents for Allstate Insurance Company customers in Texas rose
close to 4 percent in 2008. Police say the sagging economy is a
factor driving home theft numbers and big ticket items like
computers and flat-screen televisions are top targets for Texas
thieves. According to Allstate, costs associated with the home
thefts in Texas also shot up 9 percent from $11.3 million to $12.3
million in 2008. The average home theft loss per incident was more
than $4,100 in 2008, up from $3,900 in 2007. "The price Texans pay
for home theft continues to climb," said David Christopher, an
Allstate agent in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. "Jewelry joins
high-end electronics as top targets - so prevention is important.
Taking an hour to make your home less inviting to burglars can save
you many hours of frustration in the future." Police crime
prevention experts surveyed by Allstate say the most common forced
entry is a kicked down door, and for non-forced entry--a garage
left open by homeowners. "Common sense mistakes like leaving your
garage door up, literally opens the door for burglars," said
Christopher. The state's second largest home insurer is urging
consumers to case their own homes before someone else does it for
you. Whether you live in a house or apartment, theft experts at
Allstate recommend four tips to throw off thieves. Adopt a
"lived-in" look: 63 percent of residential burglaries take place
during the day. If you're not home, make sure your house looks
lived-in, day and night. Keep lights on a timer, have your mail and
newspaper delivery stopped, move cars and trash cans into the
garage and have a trusted neighbor keep an eye on your home. Think
like a thief: "Case" the outside of your house or apartment the way
a burglar would and look for easy ways to enter. Install deadbolt
locks and solid, long screws on all exterior doors and make sure
you have sturdy windows that are always closed and locked. If you
live in an apartment, make sure the sliding door has a wooden rod
in the track. Put away ladders and tools that could be used to
break into your home. Consider buying motion-sensitive lights and
trim trees and shrubs near doors and windows so burglars can't hide
in the shadows. Make some noise: Install an alarm system that can
alert neighbors and notify local police if someone is trying to
break-in. Also consider getting a dog. Even a small dog can create
enough noise to deter potential burglars. Protect your possessions:
Store items like jewelry, weapons and small antiques in a safe. Be
sure valuables like electronic devices and artwork are not visible
from the street. Also, create a home inventory of your possessions,
including photos and videos of the items. Should someone burglarize
your house or apartment, a home inventory will make it easier to
file a claim and restore your property after a loss. The Allstate
Corporation (NYSE:ALL) is the nation's largest publicly held
personal lines insurer. Widely known through the "You're In Good
Hands With Allstate(R)" slogan, Allstate helps individuals in
approximately 17 million households protect what they have today
and better prepare for tomorrow through approximately 14,600
exclusive agencies and financial representatives in the U.S. and
Canada. Customers can access Allstate products and services such as
auto insurance and homeowners insurance through Allstate agencies,
or in select states at allstate.com and 1-800 Allstate(R).
Encompass(R) and Deerbrook(R) Insurance brand property and casualty
products are sold exclusively through independent agents. The
Allstate Financial Group provides life insurance, supplemental
accident and health insurance, annuity, banking and retirement
products designed for individual, institutional and worksite
customers that are distributed through Allstate agencies,
independent agencies, financial institutions and broker-dealers.
DATASOURCE: Allstate Insurance Company CONTACT: Kristen Beaman,
+1-972-871-6656, or cell, +1-972-897-9629, for Allstate Insurance
Company
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