Protecting Your Valuables and Yourself
Chubb Personal Insurance

Protecting Your Valuables and Yourself

ALARM SYSTEMS increase the potential of the burglar being caught and arrested. While many people choose not to place alarm monitoring system decals and signs around their property, statistics prove that prominent display of the decals and signage provides significantly more deterrent value. A burglar will be more likely to move on to the first house that does not have these signs. An uninformed burglar on the other hand might break a window or door and have time to grab a few items within easy reach before the police arrive.
Depending on the type, alarm systems consist of a few main components that work together to protect your home when you are not there as well as when you are sleeping:

• Infra-red motion detectors detect any motion inside the house. They should be placed in central areas like main hallways and stairwells.
• Door and window contacts are magnetic and create an electrical current between adjoining magnets located on a door and a door frame or a window and a window sill. When the alarm is on and the door or window is opened, the current is broken and the alarm is tripped. Every door and window large enough to provide access to your home should be equipped with a contact.
• Window or door screen wires activate if the screen is removed from the frame or if the screen is cut away from its frame.
• Panic buttons: are generally placed near beds or doorways and are even available in a wireless version that can be worn as a necklace. The panic button can be manually activated if you detect or suspect an intruder.
• Glass breakage sensors are placed on windows to detect vibrations when glass is broken to gain entry to your home.
• Stress sensors are placed under rugs, carpets or floor joists. They activate an alarm when stepped upon and are effectively used in front of safes, valuable pieces of fine art and collectibles and wine collections.
• Closed-circuit TV systems allow you to view remotely one or more areas of your house or property.
  

Satellite driven security alarm systems are the latest addition to the line-up of technology for the consumer needing fail-proof protection.

PROTECT YOUR JEWELLERY FROM THEFT

HOME SAFES offer you both burglary and fire protection and are an economical addition to your home. In-ground safes installed in concrete can be installed by anyone with general knowledge of house construction and concrete work. A good time to consider installation of this kind of safe is when you will be performing other major renovations

IDENTIFY YOUR VALUABLES This might seem rather obvious to many of you, but it is surprising how many people fail to keep good track of what they have and what it looks like! An up-to-date record of what you own and its value will make life so much easier for you, your insurer, police and others in the event of a burglary or fire.

You can’t go wrong photographing or videotaping all your valuables and recording the make, model and serial numbers of your electronic devices. Digital cameras are great for this, and you can then maintain an electronic file that can be easily updated as you collect more.

An audio recording is effective for making a spoken list of collections - books, tools, stamps, coins, where you can capture more detail to complement your visual record.

Keep purchase receipts for major items. Keep a photocopy of all important documents in your wallet: credit cards, drivers’ license, birth certificate, Social Insurance card, etc.

Store all your inventory and important document records in a safety-deposit box or another secure location away from your home.