Holiday Travelers Leave Property Susceptible to Theft

A record 1.75 million Ohioans will leave their property susceptible to theft or damage this coming week as they travel for Independence Day.

Many travelers are taking advantage of the mid-week holiday by extending vacations and taking their big summer trip during this travel period. In fact, 54 percent plan on leaving this weekend, which means a large number of homes will be open to thieves.

More than 374,000 property crimes (106,521 burglaries, 246,742 larceny-thefts and 21,118 motor vehicle thefts) occurred in Ohio during 2010, according to the most recent Federal Bureau of Investigation crime data. AAA Insurance urges travelers to take the following precautions to protect their home and belongings while away on vacation.

• Don’t let newspapers and mail pile up: Temporarily discontinue newspaper service and have the post office hold the mail, or have a neighbor pick up the newspapers, mail and any fliers.
• Put lights and electronics on timers: Before leaving, set the television and a few lights to go on at times when someone is normally home.
• Make sure the home is locked: Check all windows and doors.
• Forward the home phone to a cell phone: Sometimes thieves will call to see if someone is home, and people may take notice if a phone continues ringing in an empty house.
• Don’t advertise the trip: Announcing trip details on social media or in person can be an invitation to thieves, since people then know when the house will be empty.

Holiday travelers also face risk of theft while on the road. With nearly 87 percent of Ohioans traveling by automobile this holiday, travelers will need to take extra precautions to help prevent thieves from stealing belongings from their vehicle, or even the vehicle itself.

• Always keep car doors locked, windows closed and keys out of the vehicle.
• Do not leave any valuable items in the vehicle; especially overnight.
• When unloading, don’t leave the vehicle open while taking items inside.
• When possible, park in well lit areas.

If theft does occur, a homeowners or renters insurance policy can help travelers rebuild what’s been lost. Most standard homeowners and renters policies ensure the same personal property coverage away from home as they do at home. That means belongings stolen from a vehicle or hotel room are usually covered by insurance.

To obtain coverage, theft victims will need to provide receipts or some proof of the stolen items, whether at home or on the road. Before leaving town, travelers should check with their insurance agent and review their homeowners or renters policy so they know what’s covered.