In the wake of the recent robbery in her home, Jefferson resident Debi Merz offered several tips to help prevent robberies, deal with insurance companies and make yourself as safe as possible.
- Always lock your home when you are away from it. “If thieves want to get in they will find a way, but don’t make it easy for them by leaving your door unlocked,” Merz said.
- Always lock your car when it is parked at home. This is particularly important if you have an automatic garage door opener in your car.
- Develop a connection with your neighborhood. “Be concerned without imposing on your neighbors’ privacy,” Merz said. “Think about if you or your neighbors would notice a strange car in the area.
- Videotape your house. Take a video of each room in your house and what it contains. Insurance companies can look at that to see what was there when you claim something is missing.
- Lay out smaller pieces, like jewelry. Get jewelry appraised. Then take pictures of each individual piece and keep the photos and appraisals together.
- Keep a list of credit card numbers and the phone numbers to call and cancel cards in a handy place that you can remember easily.
- Review your homeowner’s policy. Make sure it is up to date, and has riders for things like jewelry, collections and other valuables. “Make sure your insurance agent is aware of all the things in your home, and let the agent help you get the appropriate coverage,” Merz said.
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