Lets talk about thieves…

[Benjamin Brown]

I recently purchased two houses on the same street. Having recently moved to the area I was unaware of potential security issues. Since Local code requires primary residency to complete work as a diy’er I am living in one of the properties. The other is rented.

Vandals and thieves have been taking advantage of the situation by stealing tools, materials etc. Some vandalism as well.

My main questions are: experience dealing with insurance companies when filling claims, do they raise premiums?

Not much support from authorities, due to case volume, begs the question, should I even bother reporting it?

Any ideas on deterring thieves in general would be nice.

Thanks!

[William Osborne]

This can be one of the more frustrating issues you can deal with as a property owner.

In general, I would not recommend filing insurance claims for items and damage you can cover without too much pain. Insurance claims can raise your premiums, especially if you go out to shop for new insurance. Insurance should be reserved for the things you can't cover out of pocket (i.e. stolen HVAC condenser). 

I would keep filing police reports and making notes of the damage/thefts should you ever need them for a claim or evidence.

As far as deterring these situations:

1.) Remove the opportunity: Keep tools, materials, and other property out of sight and locked up securely. A lot of petty theft happens just because of a moment of opportunity.

2.) Lights and Cameras: Consider your lighting situation on your property. Is there constant illumination around your property at night? Do you have motion sensing lights set-up in your historically troubled areas of the property? There are a number of good hardwire and battery operated options these days for lights and cameras. Maybe consider some Ring spotlights for illumination and for a cheap video recording option. Don't forget to deduct these expenses!

3.) Keep your properties looking nice: I don't have any evidence to back this up, but vandals seem to target dumper looking properties more often in my experience. Clean yard, trimmed grass and bushes, and anything else you can do to improve the appear of the property within reason.

4.) Talk to the Neighbors: Network with you neighbors and see if they are having similar issues. They may have some suggestions and you can develop a relationship to look after each others property.