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If your home was broken into tonight, what would you do? Do you even know if your personal property is covered under your homeowners insurance policy? In the aftermath of a burglary, you'd probably call the police, who arrive hours later because they're too busy taking care of violent crimes to deal with theft and property crime rsspect.org It is imperative that you take a proactive approach, both in preventing property crime and dealing with the aftermath. You worked hard for your HDTV, your video game systems, and your jewelry ambafrance-kwt.org If you value these possessions, protect their value by documenting the items you own acrnally.com Take pictures of your most expensive or prized possessions, noting the make, model, and serial number akvirtualtours.com Keep these photos, along with your receipts and proof of purchase, in a safe place aregrayline.com Ideally, you should also keep a second copy of this documentation somewhere outside of your home, in case of a fire or other large-scale loss audiorommet.com It is not a bad idea to have your most high-value items appraised; in fact, an appraisal may be required if you wish to have these items specifically included on your insurance policy bandonoregonproperty.com Documentation of what you have in your home is crucial when trying to recover its value from your insurance agency. All photos of your belongings should be high resolution and in color. Record each object's size, or include a ruler in the photo. Be sure to take pictures of the full view of each object, as well as close-ups of any feature that would impact the value or aid in identification. By routinely photographing and documenting your purchases, you will have an up-to-date record of what you own in the event that you suffer a loss from a burglary or natural disaster. This information is crucial not only for insurance reimbursement, but also for police to track down your stolen goods. For example, such photographs can be distributed to local pawn shops in case the burglar tries to pawn your belongings. While these methods are essential to recovering your stolen property, you can also prevent property crime from happening to you by taking a proactive approach in safeguarding your home. Install features such as outdoor lighting and security cameras to make your home a less attractive target. Loud alarms on doors and windows can scare away burglars who attempt to enter your home. These simple security devices are inexpensive and easy to implement. In addition to inventorying your possessions, they should also be kept in a secure location, ideally in a safe. Smaller objects can be kept in disguised safes, such as those designed to look like an everyday household object or even those that look like a light switch on the wall. Even burglars who manage to make it inside will not find valuables hidden in such locations. Remember, the best time to implement these security features is before something happens. Take a proactive approach to preventing property crime by recording your possessions and safeguarding them from potential burglaries.
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