As you get ready for your summer vacation, burglars may be hard at work planning to take advantage of your unoccupied house; fortunately, there are simple precautions you can take to safeguard your home. There are more than 2.15 million burglaries each year, over 65 percent of which are residential break-ins, with the majority occurring in the peak vacation months of July and August, according to the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.).

Standard homeowner’s insurance policies provide coverage for theft of personal possessions and damage to the home caused by a break-in. If you own valuable jewelry, or other luxury goods, be sure to ask your insurance agent whether you should consider purchasing a floater to ensure adequate coverage for these items. The Insurance Information Institute offers some tips for consumers on the steps they can take to prevent burglaries.

Tips to Prevent Home Burglaries When You’re on Vacation (I.I.I.)

Tips En Espanol (I.I.I.)

July 22, 2008