So you just got your first home and you’ve moved all your stuff in. If this is your first home, you may have neglected one of the most important things that a new home owner should do prior to moving in.
Get appropriate insurance!
You have probably spent tens of thousands of dollars on your possessions and all in takes is once person to break into your house or car in the middle of the day (or night) and you could be left without a TV, laptop, stereo or other expensive personal possession.
Getting insurance is not as expensive as you would probably think and the extra protection it provides is more than worth it. Below is a list of the most commonly stolen items when criminals decide to ransack your house.
Laptops
Laptops are one of the most commonly stolen items from homes and offices. The reason being is laptops are easy to grab, is worth a lot of money and is in high demand.
Tips to prevent laptop theft:
Get a laptop lock kit and bolt it to something very sturdy. A little prevention goes a long way.
Home Stereo Equipment
It is no secret that guys like their toys and aren’t afraid to shell out the money for their electronics. Because guys love their stereos so much, they are another hot item for thieves.
Tips to prevent stereo equipment theft:
Get a locking stereo case; If the thieves can’t get into the cabinet chances are they will move onto the next item. Trying to quickly snatch large items is nearly impossible.
Car Stereos
If you don’t have a garage, make sure your car didn’t fall victim to the broker offering one of those cheap auto insurance quotes. Why? Some plans don’t cover theft outside of what originally came with your car and will battle you to the death over covering your high end stereo.
Tips to prevent car stereo theft:
If you have sub woofers and amps, make sure they are bolted down to the body of your car. I would recommend using heavy duty screws and lots of them. Also, if you can tether your head unit to the firewall of your car, it will help prevent potential thieves from being able to pull it out.
Also, make sure you turn the volume down on your music around your house. Pounding your stereo is just advertising that you have some expensive equipment in your car and you would like all the neighborhood kids to try and steel it.
Get in the habit of removing your faceplate every time you leave your car. You don’t even want a passer buy looking through your window and spotting it for future thievery.
Cell Phones
Even though when you find your cellphone missing you can get it disabled, you would be surprised how common it is for thieves to steal them. Often times, GSM phones are shipped over seas and are unlocked where the US companies have no jurisdiction.
Tips to prevent cell phone theft:
This one is easy, don’t leave your cell phone at home when you leave! Bring your cell phone with you and keep it on yourself. It is pretty hard to steel a phone from your house when it is attached to your hip. If you must leave your cell phone at home, lock it in a drawer with other valuables.
GPS Devices
GPS’s are one of the hottest selling electronic devices right now. People are getting lazier and don’t want to use maps so thieves have absolutely no problem finding buyers for your used Tom Tom.
Tips to prevent GPS theft:
If you aren’t using your GPS in your car, put it in your glove box and lock your glove box. If a thief can’t see it on the dashboard of your car, chances are they aren’t going to risk breaking in to see if it is in your glove box.
Ipods
Ipods are another object that is worth a lot of money that is super easy to grab and put in your pocket. Not only are Ipods stolen from homes, but also from schools, gyms and even at the workplace.
Tips to prevent Ipod Theft:
Because Ipods are in such high demand, try to make a habit of keeping it in your pocket and if you can’t bring it with you lock it up in a desk or in your locker.
Video Game Consoles
Xbox 360, PS3 and Nintendo Wii’s are some of the most popular video game systems on the market. Since every teenage boy aged 12-30 has some desire to own one of these consoles, thieves are all over stealing these popular gaming consoles. Nobody wants to fork over another $500 for a new video game system, so make sure you follow these tips.
Tips to prevent Video Game Console Theft:
Conveniently, video game consoles no longer require the controllers to be wired to the console. If you have a locking stereo cabinet, make sure you place your video game consoles inside of it and lock the door. Thieves want in your house and out as fast as possible and will be targeting items that are not bolted down.
DVDs/CDs
While DVDs and CDs aren’t really worth what they used to be, it is easy to throw dozens of them in bags and resell them at pawn shops for a buck a piece. Most thieves are stealing to fuel a drug habit and a few dozen movies or albums are more than enough to cover their habit for that day.
Tips to prevent DVD/CD theft:
Don’t keep your CD’s and DVDs on display! Keep them in some sort of organizer that is out of site and out of mind. If the thief can’t immediately see your goods, they aren’t going to continue to hunt for them.
Flat Panel Televisions
Nowadays it seems everybody has flat panel TVs. Since more and more people have moved away from plasma TVs and have ventured into the lighter LCD models, thieves are having a field day. Large TVs used to be nearly impossible for thieves to carry out of your house. LCD televisions are so light a single man can easily carry a 50″ TV all on his own. One thing you can be sure of, is that selling a 50″ LCD on the street is easier that stealing candy from a baby.
Tips to prevent Flat Panel Television Theft:
Some companies make lock kits that you can use to secure your TV to the wall, or even to your wall mount.
Don’t have your TV facing the road for the entire world to see, and if you do, keep the blinds closed at all times so potentially pryng eyes don’t know what you’ve got in your house.
Is there anything else I can do?
Whenever you buy anything of value, do yourself a favor and write down the serial number. If you ever are forced to use your home or auto insurance they will require that you have all the serial numbers written down to help them track down the thieves. If you are really anal, you can even go as far as engraving your initials into your devices in case somebody decides to make you their victim.
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Amazing as always