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Sarah lived in a safe area and never imagined her home would be burglarised. Picture her surprise when she came home one day to find two broken windows, open drawers, and items scattered and missing throughout the house.
Her home and contents policy covered many stolen items as well as the broken windows and floors. Unfortunately, the thief had found her jewellery, which sat atop her dresser.
While her contents insurance provided some benefit for the jewellery, it wasn’t enough to fully replace it. Since this time, Sarah has learned about specialised jewellery insurance, which provides full value replacement. Additionally, she takes precautions to secure your jewellery at home.
Sarah’s experience is not unique. Between 2018-2019, an estimated 2.4% of Australian households experienced a break-in, and 20.3% of homes have been burgled at some point.
In the face of statistics like this, it only makes sense to secure the jewellery inside your home. Let’s take a look at ten ways to safeguard your sparklies.
After Sarah’s burglary, one of the first things she did was install a security system. Just ten years ago, establishing a home security system involved wiring, cutting holes in walls, and intensive labour. Today, however, you can safeguard your home with cutting edge technology that allows you to set and monitor your system from your phone. Most systems are easy to install and set up, and you can keep an eye on your home from anywhere in the world.
Most people don’t want to keep their day-to-day jewellery (like engagement rings and wedding bands) in a safe because it’s just too tedious. But for pieces you don’t regularly wear (like your grandmother’s pearls or the earrings you wore at your wedding), a safe can be a surefire solution.
After the burglary, Sarah found a new place to store her jewellery: a locked case in her closet. The top of her dresser was too exposed. Where do you keep your rings, pendants, and earrings? Consider tucking them away in a closet or drawer where prying eyes won’t immediately see them.
It’s not always convenient, but try to schedule home repairs and housework when you’ll be home. Workers face less temptation to steal if they know the homeowner could pop in at any time.
One of the simplest ways to protect your belongings while you’re gone is to keep your doors and windows locked. If you haven’t yet developed this habit, tack a reminder by your door to help you remember.
Theft isn’t the only hazard to jewellery when you’re at home. Cleaning and working in the garden can be dangerous to your sparklers. Between harsh chemicals that tamper with your ring’s finish to rocks and tools that can chip or crack gemstones, it’s best to leave your jewellery in a padded box or soft case while you work.
Many of us remove our engagement ring while washing hands, applying lotion, or dealing with messy work like kneading bread or painting. When removing your ring, put it in a designated home, such as a ring stand, instead of leaving it on a countertop or table where it could be knocked off or forgotten.
Burglars don’t tend to look for jewellery in filing cabinets, and most of these cabinets feature locks. So it’s like using two strategies together: your jewellery is locked up, and you’ve stored it in an unusual spot. Double win!
It’s so tempting to post those epic pics of your sun-splashed vacation, but resist the urge until you’re safely back at home. Why? Thieves love to find out who’s not at home so they can ransack the place without putting themselves at risk. Make a habit of waiting until the end of your trip to let the world know you’re out of town.
Purchase the ultimate protection for your favourite pieces: specialised jewellery insurance. Whether it’s stolen from your house or lost in the ocean, your engagement ring or luxury watch can be fully replaced (you can even return to your original jeweller for repairs or replacement).
Avoid losing your jewellery the way Sarah did. To get an instant quote for a policy today, fill out our simple online form. Or, if you’re currently in the market for a fabulous addition to your collection, shop at one of our Q Certified Jewellers. You’ll be able to secure insurance at the point of sale, and it will be protected from the moment you walk it out of the shop.
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