Murfreesboro, TN – Tis the season for peace on earth and goodwill towards men, but it’s also the time of year for people to steal your stuff.
According to State Farm, Tennessee is ranked ninth on the list of states for December theft claims in 2014.
Top 10 States for Theft
- CA – 1,389 claims (avg/month: 1,209 claims)
- TX – 655 claims (avg/month: 734 claims)
- GA – 635 claims (avg/month: 508 claims)
- IL – 619 claims (avg/month: 509 claims)
- OH – 454 claims (avg/month: 399 claims)
- WA – 362 claims (avg/month: 299 claims)
- AZ – 327 claims (avg/month: 283 claims)
- IN – 296 claims (avg/month: 262 claims)
- TN – 281 claims (avg/month: 261 claims)
- PA – 277 claims (avg/month: 253 claims)
Overall, December is the second busiest month for thefts, trailing only January.
#1 month for theft claims in 2014: January – 9,817 claims
#2 month for theft claims in 2014: December – 9,533 claims
#3 month for theft claims in 2014: July – 9,044 claims
As a result of home security systems and awareness about the increase in theft, the average number of State Farm claims per month has dropped significantly each year since 2011:
- 2011: 12,440 claims/month
- 2012: 11,860 claims/month
- 2013: 10,520 claims/month
- 2014: 8,380 claims/month
How can you protect yourself? Here are some things to consider:
- Consider installing an alarm system. Doing so may qualify you for a home insurance discount. Consult your agent.
- Use automatic timers on lights when away.
- Always park your cars in the garage with the garage door shut. A burglar may otherwise notice a pattern that a closed garage door or no cars in the driveway means no one is home. Closing the garage door and having curtains or blinds on the garage windows also hides some of your belongings.
- Place radios on automatic timers and raise the volume so they can be heard outside.
- Never leave notes on your door that can tip off burglars.
- When you purchase big-ticket items, don’t leave the boxes outside for curbside pickup. You’re letting everyone know what goodies are inside your home.
See more at: https://learningcenter.statefarm.com/residence/safety-1/protect-yourself-against-home-burglary/#sthash.cnU0go1l.dpuf
