Private Insurers Urge British Columbians: Secure Your Stuff

    Giving away free home alarm monitoring as part of BC Crime
    Prevention Week

    VANCOUVER, Nov. 3 /CNW/ - Canada's private-sector home, car and business
insurers are pitching in to help British Columbians create safer communities.
Today, as part of Crime Prevention Week, the industry announced a new contest
that will see three lucky, and conscientious, BC families win free home alarm
monitoring for a year.
    The "Secure Your Stuff" contest, sponsored by Insurance Bureau of Canada
(IBC), aims to get British Columbians involved in their personal safety and
security by making them think about the small things they can do to help
safeguard themselves and their belongings. BC residents can enter by
submitting a one-page personal security plan, describing steps they have
taken, or plan to take, to improve their personal security. Details at
www.ibc.ca.
    "There are simple things we can all do to improve our personal safety,"
said Lindsay Olson, Vice-President, BC, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, IBC. "At
home, locking doors, asking a neighbour to pick up newspapers while you're
away, installing a home alarm. These are things that will make a burglar think
twice before targeting your home."
    Olson said that personal safety should extend beyond your home. "When
you're out and about, don't leave your valuables unattended. If you must leave
your laptop or cellphone in the car, lock them in the trunk or somewhere a
thief won't see them. Also, don't carry your keys together with ID that shows
your address. If a thief has one, you don't want them to have the other."
    Because crime does happen, IBC encourages British Columbians to make sure
their home insurance is sufficient to cover all of their belongings. One way
to make sure is by using IBC's free "Know your Stuff" home inventory software.
    "You can't secure your stuff if you don't know your stuff," said Olson.
"Keeping an inventory of your possessions makes it easier to know if you have
enough insurance, and makes your life much easier if you ever need to make a
claim." The software can be downloaded at www.ibc.ca.
    This year, the theme for Crime Prevention Week is "Creating Safer
Communities through Assessment, Awareness and Action." IBC strongly supports
provincial efforts to help safeguard communities by promoting personal
awareness and community vigilance. This will not only help to control crime
rates, but will also contribute to maintaining stable insurance premiums.

    Insurance Bureau of Canada is the national industry association
representing Canada's private home, car and business insurers. Its member
companies represent nearly 95% of the property and casualty (P&C) insurance
market in Canada. The P&C insurance industry employs over 108,000 Canadians,
pays more than $6 billion in taxes to the federal and provincial governments,
and has a total premium base of $36 billion.

    Backgrounder:

                 Crime Prevention Week: November 1 - 7, 2008

                     Protect your belongings from thieves

    "Break-ins are crimes of opportunity," says Al Maggi, Manager, Marketing,
Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC). No one should make it easy for thieves. By
taking a few simple steps, people can protect themselves and their valuable
possessions from being stolen."

    At Home:

    -   Always keep doors locked - an open door is an open invitation for
        a thief.
    -   Change the locks whenever you move into a new house. Deadbolt locks
        offer the most protection.
    -   Make sure your home's exterior doors are solid and secure them with
        good double-barrel locks.
    -   Install exterior lighting and motion detectors around your house.
        Lights will reduce the darkness a burglar finds useful. Mount them
        out of reach to prevent tampering.
    -   Secure the door that leads into your house from the garage just as
        well as all other exterior doors. Also secure sliding glass doors
        and windows
    -   Consider installing a peephole in your front door. This will allow
        you to see who is knocking before you open the door.
    -   Consider installing metal grills over your basement windows.
    -   Give your home a "lived-in" look when you are on vacation. For
        example, use a timer to set lights to turn on and off, and ask a
        friend to pick up your newspapers and mail daily.
    -   Install an alarm system in your home.

    Develop good security habits

    -   Develop a routine - make sure doors and windows are locked and your
        alarm system is armed even if you are going to be out of the house
        for just a few minutes.
    -   Don't hide your keys in so-called secret places outside your home.
    -   Don't carry house keys along with other pieces of identification that
        would allow a would-be burglar to learn your address.
    -   Leave the radio on, preferably tuned to a station airing call-in
        shows, when you go out.

    In Public:

    -   Never leave valuables, especially cell phones and laptop computers,
        in plain view inside your vehicle. If you must leave valuables in the
        car, place them in the trunk or somewhere out of sight.
    -   Place a hand on your purse when you are walking, instead of letting
        it dangle from your shoulder. Keep purses or bags containing
        valuables securely closed.
    -   Never leave your purse, wallet or shopping bags unattended in a
        department store change room.
    -   Put your purse, bag or wallet out of sight when you are at the
        office. Avoid leaving valuables in a coat or jacket hanging by
        the door.
    -   Use a strong lock to secure your locker at the gym or fitness club.
        Don't keep valuable items in your locker.

    Know your stuff

    As well as taking every precaution to prevent theft, be sure that you
have adequate insurance coverage for theft and break-ins.
    Unfortunately, sometimes the worst happens: thieves succeed in stealing
valuables, and you have to make an insurance claim. Be prepared; create a
detailed home inventory that itemizes all of your belongings, room by room.
    Free software is available to download from IBC's website (www.ibc.ca)
that makes it easy for you to take inventory of your possessions. The software
allows you to upload digital pictures and provides you with the option to
store your information in a secure location.
    Make sure your insurance covers all of your possessions. Check with your
insurance provider to find out whether you require a special insurance rider
covering the full value of your jewellery, cameras or your collections.
    Even if you are unlucky enough to be robbed, if you have prepared a home
inventory, you will be in better shape when the time comes to make an
insurance claim.
    For more information about protecting your belongings: www.ibc.ca

    Crime Prevention Week

    Since 1983, Crime Prevention Week has been an annual event that runs
nationally during the first week in November. It provides an opportunity to
bring members of the community together to participate in events that promote
and support community safety.
    This year's theme - "Creating Safer Communities through Assessment,
Awareness and Action" - is a reminder to everyone that they play a key role in
preventing crime and in keeping our communities safe throughout the year.
    For more information about crime prevention programs and Crime Prevention
Week, please visit: www.bccpa.org/bccpa/crimepreventionweek.htm.

    The BC Crime Prevention Association is an integrated team of citizens and
police, dedicated to preventing crime. We provide ongoing province-wide
education and awareness through our community partnerships.
    www.bccpa.org

For further information: on the Secure Your Stuff contest please
contact: Ellen Woodger at (416) 483-2358; or Al Maggi at (416) 362-2031,
x4329; For further information on Crime Prevention Week please contact:
Valerie MacLean, Executive Director, BC Crime Prevention Association, (604)
291-9959, ext. 226, v.maclean@bccpa.org