Higher risk of break-ins prompts security warning over the festive period

With the holiday season just around the corner, RACT Insurance CEO Trent Sayers is
reminding Tasmanians to check the security of their homes this festive period, with claims data
revealing the chance of having your home broken in to over this time can increase by as much
as 50 per cent.

“Unfortunately, we do see an increase in the number of break-ins over Christmas and the New
Year. Thieves are well aware our homes are more likely to be unattended over the holidays,
providing them with the opportunity to strike,” said Mr Sayers.

“According to RACT Insurance claims data, the number of thefts reported from residential
property increases anywhere from 25-50 per cent in December and January compared with
other months of the year.

“If you are going away for the Christmas break, ask a neighbour to keep an eye on your house
for you. It’s also a good idea to invest in automatic timers for your lights and TV to make it look
as if someone is around.

“In this age of technology, try to keep your holiday plans off social media sites unless you are
confident your posts aren’t visible to the public, these websites are often visited by thieves
looking for easy targets.”

Mr Sayers said the festive period also brings a large number of shoppers into town, each vying
for that coveted car parking space at any cost.

“In 2015 and 2016, our claims data showed that over 10 per cent of all accidental damage
claims in December and January were as a result of a car park collision,” he said.

“Multi-story car parks are notoriously awkward to navigate. With the volume of traffic at this time
of year, extra care should be taken to check mirrors and blind spots to reduce the chances of
hitting another car or pedestrian.

“Shopping at this time of year can be a very stressful experience and it is very easy to become
frustrated by the actions of others. Try to remain calm and avoid getting into potential road rage
situations.

“While it is impossible to protect yourself against every risk you face, making sure your car and
your home are adequately insured will help to minimise the financial impact should an accident
occur.”
RACT Insurance CEO Trent Sayers