Home and Household

Tip-offs help police arrest plasma television thieves in Theunissen

No Comments »Written on May 1st, 2012 by jonckie
Categories: Home and Household, Household
Tags: , ,


Three people have been arrested in Theunissen, 60km south of Welkom, for possession of stolen goods, Free State police said on Tuesday.

After receiving a tip-off, police searched two houses in Tshepong section and found two undocumented plasma televisions, said Captain Stephen Thakeng in a statement.

The two TV's owners, a 31-year-old and 39-year-old woman, were both arrested and the TVs seized.

The women told police they had bought the TVs from a house in the area.

Police searched the house after being given permission by its owner, a 32-year-old man. The search led to the discovery of a hidden plasma TV and laptop.

The man was also arrested after failing to provide documentation for the items, Thakeng said.

The three televisions and the laptop seized by police were valued at R35 000.

The two women and man were expected to appear in the Theunissen Magistrate's Court on Wednesday. - Sapa

Think like a criminal to make your home less of a target for criminals

No Comments »Written on April 11th, 2012 by jonckie
Categories: Home and Household, Household
Tags: , , , ,


The increased sophistication of criminals are seeing them use advanced intelligence techniques to target our homes. Furthermore, deterrents such as alarms and armed response have little effect on SA criminals. In this press release we look at what you can to make your house a less attractive target and how to become more savvy when it comes to protecting your home.

A barking dog, changing your daily routine and the presence of closed-circuit TV (CCTV) could make your home a less attractive target to criminals.

Referring to a study done by a UK-based insurance company and research conducted by a Dr Rudolph Zinn of the School of Criminal Justice at UNISA, Auto & General’s spokesperson, Angelo Haggiyannes says that house robbers spend a considerable amount of time watching and gathering intelligence on potential targets.

“People who don’t advertise what they’ve got and alter their routines to make it harder for criminals to formulate their plans of attack are less likely to be targeted,” says Haggiyannes, adding that insight into the way that house robbers think could help prevent people from becoming targets.

The UK research revealed that some techno-savvy robbers were even using social networking sites to gather intelligence, with 12% using the likes of Facebook and Twitter to pinpoint the whereabouts of a target and establish how long they would absent from home.

According to Dr Zinn, in South Africa, house robbers spend a lot of time, sometimes up to two weeks, monitoring the target’s home and the residents’ movements. 80% of the reformed house robbers interviewed by Dr Zinn used inside information sourced from domestic workers, gardeners and former employees to assist them in committing their crimes.

While house robbers in the UK listed alarm systems as a deterrent, those interviewed in the South African study were undeterred by alarms and armed reaction services. Electric fencing, detection beams and small dogs that sleep inside the house are considered deterrents in South Africa.

Both studies suggest that open displays of wealth such as expensive cars, jewellery and even discarded packaging of newly-acquired expensive goods such as TVs serve to attract criminals. In fact, 20% of the house burglars questioned in the UK survey said leaving packaging on the pavement is tantamount to advertising to them.

“If house robbers have a universal approach to choosing their targets and seem to ‘agree’ on what they consider to be deterrents, then there are perhaps a few things that we as homeowners can do to detract would-be criminals’ attention away from our homes,” says Haggiyannes.

Haggiyannes says that it’s important to make it as difficult as possible for criminals to gather intelligence on you and your home.

“Given that robbers tend to case-out a property and the residents’ comings and goings for as long as two weeks, it is highly-recommended that you deviate from your usual routine regularly. Change your patterns every week by leaving and returning home at different times, using different routes and visiting different shops to what you typically do.

“In South Africa, the importance of employing extreme caution when hiring domestic workers and other service providers cannot be underestimated. Be careful who you let into your home.”

Haggiyannes concludes saying that while some burglars may not consider alarms or armed response services as deterrents, homeowners should still invest in these and other intruder prevention and detection systems.

“Invest in the best security you can afford and have multiple layers of protection to make it as difficult as possible for robbers to get into your property.”

Also view:

Home and Household Insurance

Does your home and household insurance policy provide cover when you rent out the house?

No Comments »Written on April 3rd, 2012 by jonckie
Categories: Business, Guesthouse and B&B, Home and Household, Household, Q&A
Tags: , , , , ,

The KKNK, a well- known national Arts Festival started on Saturday in Oudtshoorn. Our neighbours decided to give the Festival a skip this year and headed off to Europe for a brief vacation. They decided to rent out their home to a production team from Cape Town and it appears that the new inhabitants are having a ball!

On Sunday morning at 1h30 am the music and laughter still kept not only us awake but also the neighbours on our other side. We can only hope that keeping the neighbours awake at night is the only damage to be caused...

What do we need to know about renting out the house and what is the effect on home and household insurance?

It is important to remember that the home and household insurance policy is an agreement between you and the insurer based on specific facts on which your risk profile is calculated. It is also your duty to inform the insurer of facts or changes that might alter your risk profile.

With this in mind I approached a few of the experts from OUTsurance with questions about what to do when you consider renting out the house:

Should you be the insured policyholder for home and household insurance – would you need to notify the insurer of such an event?

You would need to inform your insurer about this as it is a material change to the risk and thus the cover that is applicable.

The chances of us covering this occurrence is very slim as the risk is so much greater with strangers being in the house and having unlimited access to all parts of the property.

When does the need arise...if it does arise… to inform the insurer that someone else is living in the house?

Whenever there is a change such as the example above, the insurer would need to be informed.

The example above would be treated very differently from an instance of a friend housesitting.

However all material changes should be referred to the insurer for a decision to then be made on whether there is cover or if there are restrictions on cover.

When does your home and household insurance policy become more of a business insurance policy – such as that of becoming a guesthouse?

Usually where there is a room being let out in the property with the person sharing common ground with the family such as meals and tv room etc, the house is a guesthouse. This can still sometimes be covered under the client’s personal policy.

It is best though when there is a change such as a room being let, that the client call the insurer to determine if there is going to be a change and if the policy should be changed to a business policy for full cover.

Conclusion

It is always best advice to communicate with your insurer or broker and to avoid any assumptions and uncertainties. Even though the insurance premium might remain the same, both you and the insurer will have peace of mind that there is always a full disclosure of all the material facts to the insurance cover provided.

As home owner also be aware of your obligation to inform the inhabitants of the home of the required security measures such as alarm systems that may need to be switched on when they leave the house!

Regretful thief returns stolen GPS device with a note to say sorry!

No Comments »Written on March 17th, 2012 by jonckie
Categories: Home and Household, Household, Legal, Vehicle
Tags: , ,

Even thieves sometimes display regret!! We would like to share an amazing story appearing in the Daily Mail!

"When Kevin Ingram’s satnav and digital radio vanished from his unlocked van outside his home, he gave them up as gone for good.

The electrician and his wife Sue, who had been targeted by thieves before, chose not to claim the items on their insurance or to alert the police.

Which turned out to be just as well – because the morning after the theft, Mrs Ingram discovered a note on the van’s windscreen pointing to a bag by the side of their home in Stone, near Dartford, Kent, containing the stolen valuables.

There was also an apology note from the thief and £10 (R119) in cash. The note read: ‘Very sorry 4 taking this was very drunk £10 is for your inconvenience’.

The Ingrams, who are scout leaders, said they were ‘stunned’ by the attack of conscience.

Mr Ingram, 54, said: ‘When I saw them on the side and a £10 bonus I couldn’t believe it.

‘I can respect the person a lot more for returning them even though they shouldn’t have been taken in the first place.’

The satnav is vital to Mr Ingram’s job and the radio was a birthday present from his son.

Mrs Ingram, a 54-year-old primary school liaison officer, said that the incident had restored her faith in humanity. She added: ‘I would pat them [the thief] on the back. It is quite nice to see someone say sorry when they have done wrong.’ -Daily Mail"

Also view:

GPS and Road Safety

Bicycle insurance is needed to cover cyclists from more than just a fall!

No Comments »Written on March 10th, 2012 by jonckie
Categories: Bicycles and Mountain Bikes, Home and Household, Household, Q&A, Vehicle
Tags: , , , , ,

Thousands of cyclists are eagerly anticipating the start of the 35th Cape Argus Pick ‘n Pay Cycle Tour taking place in Cape Town tomorrow!

The 35000 participant 110 km Cycle Tour is the largest individually timed cycle race in the world. It is organised by the Pedal Power Association and the Rotary Club of Claremont, and monies raised from the entry fees are shared with community upliftment and cycling development projects, R3 million having been raised in 2011.   It is estimated that the Cycle Tour will contribute at least R500 million to the economy of the Western Cape, based on 2011 information.

Earlier this morning I smiles at the cartoon from my friend Deni Bown from Mama Taxi, focusing on the Cycle Tour as well. I deemed it appropriate to share a few thoughts on bicycle insurance, a topic well understood by most professional cyclists, yet not as well by most social cyclists.

What do we need to cover with Bicycle insurance?

If we look at the range of bicycles available today we can easily see why this has become such a valuable asset in the eyes of both cyclists and criminals. The best bicycles are to be found in a price range as high as many small motor vehicles!

We have also shared in a few earlier posts reports on the alarming increase in bicycle hijackings in South Africa. This threat is not one to be expected at an organized event – but there are many other risks...

The cyclist needs cover when racing, training, riding socially and also when transporting his bicycle!

Photo during cycle race by Denese Lups

So what are these risks to the owner of a bicycle?

-          Accidental damage and loss

-          Hijacking

-          Theft

-          Fire

-          Personal accident and liability

Both cyclists and bicycles needs to be protected

On the Arrive Alive website we have shared information and advice on cycling safety and placed a special focus on the safety of cyclists in uniquely South African conditions.

It is important to recognize the vulnerability of cyclists especially when sharing the road with many other road users. You may need to ensure that you have more than just protective clothing to protect you in the accidental fall!

Different bikes and different cycling codes may require special bicycle insurance

Keep in mind that we are all unique and our needs differ. The following questions may guide us to establishing what the specific needs are:

-Do you ride only socially or as a professional cyclist?

-Do you have an average bike or some kind of carbon –fibre “wunderbike”?

-Do you simply need coverage in the event that the bike is stolen from your garage or do you need comprehensive cover for the risks of falling from a major drop while doing mountain bike racing?

-Do you plan to take your bike overseas with you?

Advice and suggestions on bicycle insurance

Treat the insurance of your bike with the necessary attention it deserves! We would like to advise the following:

-Scrutinize your insurance policy and focus on the small details.

- In many cases, your household insurance can be upgraded to include coverage for bicycles.

-You may need to upgrade the value of your policy to provide adequate cover and specify your bicycle on the policy to make sure your Insurer will cover you.

- Enquire as to under what circumstances you are and aren’t covered.

-Pay specific attention to travel insurance and whether your bicycle is insured while travelling.

- If so, make sure you have adequate coverage for your bike as a single item and understand if there are exclusions you need to be aware of.

- Pay attention to the policies of Airlines with regard to lost / damaged baggage. Any single item is likely to only be covered to a certain amount by them and, subject to being adequately labelled and appropriately packaged.

-Ask if your insurance will cover your bicycle when you are taking it abroad

What do I need to know about insurance and participating in an event?

Most events will have stipulations and waivers you will find when entering the race. As part of your participation fee to enter many organised racing and participation rides it should generally cover public liability costs. Some will have a waiver clause and you should be aware of any waiver you sign and what it means for you.

Conclusion:

Always compare the options and listen to other participants and ask them for advice. Cyclists are most often a friendly bunch eager to assist one another with the best advice. It is well worth the conversation to ask them how they are insured and why.

May you cycle with the peace of mind that you only need to fear someone passing you by on the road!

On the Arrive Alive website there are 2 sections well worth of your attention:

Cycling safely on South African roads and mountain bike trails

Cycling Safety Suggestions for South African Conditions

Also view:

Mountain biking community warned to be alert of counterfeiters targeting cyclists

Mountain bikers warned to be alert to the threat of bike jacking in South Africa

Photo during cycle race by Denese Lups

Can I save by removing the theft component from the home and household insurance policy?

No Comments »Written on May 16th, 2011 by jonckie
Categories: Home and Household, Household
Tags: , , , , , , ,

The best way to save on expensive insurance premiums is to gain a better understanding of your insurance. To make informed decisions we need information to base our decisions on - as simple as that! The same applies to those decisions we make when purchasing our home and household insurance.

Do you know what part of your insurance premium goes towards cover for which potential threat of loss or damage? The percentage of premium going towards theft and household cover varies - overall however the % forms a significant part of the overall premium calculation!

How much cover do we need?

Insurance is all about choices – and there should be a wide range of options on the menu. If you are on a diet, you do not need to order fries with your steak – you might decide to rather have the vegetables. If you are on a financial or insurance diet, and in need of saving – you may decide not purchase cover for every possible or remote peril!

When might it not be necessary to have theft cover in your home and household insurance policy?

Some of my more fortunate friends live on golf estates and the so-called gated communities where there is a strong focus on security. Security measures include the following:

  • The whole complex or estate is fenced with walls and layers of electric fencing.
  • Entrance is possible only through once central and heavily guarded entrance.
  • Residents are fingerprint scanned and allowed entry through fingerprint scanners and boom gates.
  • Visitors only gain entrance after confirmation from and between the estate security and residents.
  • Domestic and other workers are fingerprint scanned and their criminal records checked and cleared before allowing them to work within the estate.
  • Residents benefit from private armed response services as well as estate security services.
  • Premises are patrolled with both security vehicles and golf carts.
  • Individual homes have alarm systems installed, burglar proofed and even have intruderprufe laminated safety glass.
  • Some might even have their own guard dogs as well....

These homeowners might agree that they are much less likely to have possessions stolen or their homes burgled. They might well consider saving on their home and household insurance by removing the theft component – the most expensive part of any home and household insurance policy!

Insurance policy should be tailored to YOUR needs!

It should be kept in mind that our needs differ from person to person. If you are not as fortunate and are living in an area where there is much more crime and less security, you will be ill-advised not to be insured against theft. We would like to advise that you analyze your personal needs and circumstances and then communicate with your insurer.

Ask your insurer the following:

-          Is it possible to be insured with and without the theft component in your home and household insurance policy?

-          What would the premium be with or without insurance against theft?

Once theft cover is removed – what protection would still remain?

Even without theft cover there should still be protection from numerous other perils. Trevor Devitt from OUTsurance confirmed that cover might still need to protect from:

Acts of nature (flood storm, wind, hail and snow), fire, lightning and explosion, burst geysers and leaking pipes, power surges and dips, impact by vehicles and aircraft (including articles dropped from aircraft), accidental breakage to TV sets, mirrors and glass forming part of any furniture. ...So the list of what is covered still includes a wide range of perils that can cause loss or damage to Contents!

Conclusion

Insurance should never be a once size fits all. We would like to advise that homeowners regularly review their circumstances and align them with their financial needs. Scrutinize your insurance policy, ask questions and communicate with your insurer or insurance assessor to ensure that you are effectively covered!!

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