We've listed 10 home insurance policies available on Finder that will cover you for theft and attempted theft. We've also highlighted some ways you can make your home more secure, which can also help lower your premiums. Remember, policies only cover you for items kept in a secure and lockable building, so it's worth following these 10 simple security measures.
1. Lock up your home every time you go out – even if it's just for a short time.
2. Trim back bushes that obscure your front door or give places for thieves to hide.
3. Ask your neighbours to collect your mail if you go on holiday.
4. Give the illusion that someone is home at all times. Automatic lights and a radio set on a timer are good ways to achieve this.
5. If you've just bought some expensive new gear, ensure you break up the packaging before putting it into the bin.
6. Get an alarm system – this could be an actual system or just a barking dog. Can't afford that? Just get a "Beware of dog" sign.
7. Invest in a solid front door with a deadlock.
8. Add privacy film to the glass on and around exterior doors. This will help distort the view from the outside and prevent window shopping.
9. Get to know your neighbours. They can keep an eye on things if you're away.
10. Scatter your valuables throughout the house in unusual locations.
| Response | Female | Male |
|---|---|---|
| Peace of mind | 40.52% | 33.27% |
| Theft | 28.79% | 31.2% |
| Fire protection | 30.17% | 29.14% |
| Storm damage | 21.38% | 26.32% |
| Flood protection | 8.97% | 8.83% |
| Because it is a requirement of my home loan | 5.69% | 7.52% |
| Other | 0.17% | 0.56% |
Most burglars are likely to look for easy targets when robbing a home or business. According to the AIC report, most burglaries are opportunistic and done on the spur of the moment. Even when someone sets out with the specific intention of breaking into a home, they typically don’t have a target in mind. Instead, they just decide on a specific house when they see it.
Most burglars report being in and out within 5 to 15 minutes and taking less than 5 minutes to enter the property itself, usually through open or unlocked doors and windows.
It’s probably no surprise that peak season for burglary tends to be the summer when more people are leaving windows open.
Some detained burglars surveyed by the AIC stated that when they saw a home’s occupant washing their car in the driveway or doing yard work, they’d sneak around the back and rob the house. Others mentioned simply walking off the street into a house party and taking things.
Unsurprisingly, home insurance typically won’t pay out if the burglars gained entry through an unlocked door or unsecured window while no one was at home. Insurance also won’t pay if the burglars were invited in or were otherwise only there as a result of your failure to take reasonable precautions (like making sure you don’t have uninvited guests at a house party).
The most common ways of breaking in don’t necessarily involve breaking at all.
According to the AIC report, approximately
The vast majority of burglaries simply involve walking in off the street, while only a minority involve actual breaking and entering.
A lack of security systems is one of the most common reasons for targeting premises. Almost 80% of thieves say that’s how they choose a target. Burglars have targeted houses for the following reasons:
According to the survey, around 80% have targeted premises because they saw a way in or minimal security measures.
According to the survey, around 35% have targeted premises because it looked like a rich target or they saw good things to steal.
According to the survey, around 20% have targeted premises because of a lack of activity.
According to burglars, even the smallest and friendliest dog is an effective deterrent. Not because they’re worried it might attack, but because it might draw attention by barking.
Alarm systems, sensor lights and grilled windows and doors are also very off-putting. Some won’t take the risk if the property is visible from the road or if they don’t know the area. In some cases, a gate is all it takes to put off a burglar.
Dogs might be one of the most effective deterrents because they don’t indicate that there are any valuables inside, while some burglars take the appearance of other security systems as an indication that the home contains valuables.
Despite this, even the most basic security measures definitely help a lot more than they hurt. Households without basic security measures like deadlocks and alarm systems were involved in 15% of home robberies, while those with security measures were only involved in 2%.
When asked about homeowners’ most common mistakes that unintentionally invited burglary, many of the surveyed burglars said the same things.
When burglars look for a way in, they look for the easy ways, such as open doors or windows, along with minimal security. They’re looking for parcels on the doorsteps, items left in the backyard or an unlocked shed or garage that might have something worth taking.
A handful may have mentioned skylights, tree lines and environmental features, but most burglars aren’t looking for that much of a challenge, and you generally don’t need to worry about skylights or specific environmental features.
Instead, it might pay to think about visibility more generally, including how clear and wide the driveway is and how visible a property is from the road and to its neighbours.
When a burglar enters a home, they’re generally looking to get in and out within a few minutes. They will take whatever’s valuable and close to hand. This might be something they saw through a window, whatever’s lying out in plain sight or valuables in obvious spots like jewellery in jewellery boxes, car keys on a key rack and handbags left on a table.
According to RACQ, the following were the most commonly stolen items during break-and-enter home burglaries:
One of the main takeaways might be that the oldest tricks don’t work anymore. Fake signs of occupancy might no longer work as deterrents and might even make a house seem like a more attractive target.
Fake security measures might have a similar effect, with burnt out security lights or cobwebbed security cameras simultaneously indicating that there may be something worth stealing and that the area is less secure than it initially appears.
The following are some of the main takeaways:
Generally, deterrents are the most effective form of security. If someone does get inside, there are ways to make sure you’re less likely to lose what’s most important.
There are 2 ways to match your security to your insurance:
The most effective countermeasures are often rewarded with lower insurance premiums, but different insurers might consider different aspects. When you get quotes for home insurance or quotes for business assets insurance, it’s worth shopping around to see if one insurer might reward your security measures more than another.
If you’ve recently installed or upgraded your security measures, such as if you recently got a dog, installed security shutters or renovated your garage, it can be worth re-assessing your policy and seeing if you may be entitled to reduced premiums for cover.
Generally, some low-maintenance countermeasures like shutters, a fenced backyard and deadlocks may entitle you to lower premiums, while insurers might appreciate advanced security systems like alarms even more.
However, it’s also important to make sure you know the terms and conditions that may apply to your cover. Policy exclusions apply to all insurance policies and home insurance is no exception.
Exclusions are conditions where a policy won’t pay out. Other terms may also apply. Generally, these match real-life burglary risks. For example, you won’t necessarily be covered in the event of a burglar gaining access through an unlocked front door while you’re out of the home.
For home, contents and business insurance, the following are some typical exclusions:
For your contents insurance in particular, you should also be aware of any limits and sub-limits which may apply. Some of the most at-risk items will have their own restrictions on how a policy covers them.
For example, typical policy conditions may include the following:
By taking appropriate precautions, you can make sure the risk of burglary is minimal as well as reduce your home or business insurance premiums. A similar principle applies to other risks like storm, fire and flood, and it can be worth looking for the best way to protect your home from all potential hazards as you compare insurance policies.
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