Burglary: what does my insurance cover?
Burglars often strike at dawn or dusk. But which insurance covers burglary? How can I protect my home contents? Comparis explains.
19.09.2024
iStock/D-Keine
1. Burglary: which insurance pays out?
In most cases, home contents insurance covers loss and damage caused by burglaries. Insurance policies distinguish between different types of theft:
Simple theft
This type of theft is also known as ”misappropriation”. There are no major obstacles for the thief to overcome. For example: someone enters your apartment through an open window.
A distinction is made between “simple theft at home” and “simple theft away from home”.
“Simple theft at home” is included in the basic cover provided by home contents insurance. This covers incidents such as the theft of a bicycle from your garage.
However, there are some restrictions: cash that has not been locked away and other high-value items like securities and precious metals, for instance, are not covered.
If you want insurance cover for when you are out and about, you need to add “simple theft away from home” to your policy. Lost or mislaid items are not usually replaced. Cash and high-value items are not insured either.
A separate maximum sum insured applies to supplemental “simple theft away from home” cover. This is usually between 2,000–5,000 francs.
Burglary
If the perpetrator forces their way into a room or breaks open containers, it is considered burglary. Theft by opening a lock using the right key or code is considered as equivalent to burglary if the perpetrator has got hold of the key or code by means of burglary or robbery.
This kind of damage is included in the basic cover of home contents insurance, which pays out for the stolen and damaged property at its replacement value. Jewellery and cash are usually only covered up to a certain value.
Robbery
This term is used to describe thefts made under threat or through use of violence. These thefts are covered by the basic cover in home contents insurance.
2. Consequential damages of burglary: who pays?
A home contents insurance policy also pays out for damages resulting from a break-in, such as a broken door lock or a smashed window. The maximum amount that is compensated is usually defined separately – check your policy for details.
Do you live in a rented apartment? Damages caused by a burglary to your apartment or building are usually covered by liability insurance.
Tip: check the sum insured
Adjust the insured sum of your home contents insurance policy to reflect the value of your household items. For example, if you buy an expensive bicycle, you can increase the insured sum for the component “simple theft away from home”. This way, you avoid being underinsured.
3. How can I protect myself from break-ins?
Even if you’re just popping out for a few minutes, always lock the door to your home. For rented apartments, this also goes for the door to your apartment as well as the building.
Make sure you close all windows when you go out. From an insurer’s point of view, a tilted or ajar window is considered an “open” window. If an incident occurs when the windows are open, this is considered simple theft.
Having neighbours you can trust is extremely helpful. Let them know if you aren’t going to be in, so they can keep a watchful eye on your home.
Overflowing mailboxes are a sign of an empty apartment. If you are going to be away for a longer period, ask someone you trust to empty your postbox regularly. You can also arrange for the post office to retain your mail.
Thieves like to check for keys under door mats and plant pots and in postboxes. Instead, leave the keys with a neighbour.
Criminals communicate with each other using a scribbled code based on a series of simple signs and symbols. An X means that there is something worth stealing here.
Make a note of markings on walls, doors or postboxes, take a photo of them and report them to the police. You should then remove the markings.
If you notice something suspicious or catch a burglar in the act, you should alert the police as quickly as possible by calling the emergency number 117. Very important: don’t clean up the scene of the crime.
Staying at home is the best burglary protection. If you’re going away, however, you can pretend to still be home. When going away for a longer period of time, you could consider installing light timers, smart bulbs or fake TV simulators.
Many break-in attempts are defeated early on with motion detector lights in the home entryway, on decking or by the garage. Another good solution is to invest in a smart home security kit that can be controlled easily via an app.
All a burglar needs is a standard screwdriver to open unsecured windows and doors. Check that your door lock conforms to the latest standards. Fitting additional door locking devices will make it more difficult for intruders to gain access.
Criminals use social media to figure out where you are. It’s therefore not a good idea to share on Facebook, Instagram or other social media that you’re going on holiday.
This article was first published on 30.09.2020
