Study: Most residents consider their homes their most important property, yet one in four does nothing to protect them

Most Latvian residents consider their home the most important property they own, yet almost one in four does nothing to protect it against burglaries, according to the results of a study* conducted by Gjensidige Latvija. Aleksejs Kozirs, head of the Claims Department at Gjensidige Latvija, explains residents’ habits by noting that people learn from their own experience in everyday life; therefore, those who have experienced a burglary are much more cautious than those who have never encountered one.

Almost half (44%) of those surveyed rely on secure locks and have purchased insurance, while nearly  one in four entrusts the security of their home to a dog.

“Secure locks should not be regarded as significant protection against unwanted visitors, but rather as an obvious necessity. Burglars also have access to various devices that enable them to overcome even the highest-quality locks—it is only a matter of time. That is precisely why it is advisable to install an alarm system at home, which could draw the attention of people nearby to unwanted visitors and also notify the owner of what is happening at home,” explains Aleksejs Kozirs.

According to data from the Gjensidige Latvija study, around 20% of residents have installed alarm systems in their homes, and men (24%) trust them considerably more often than women (14%).

Almost one in four residents entrusts the security of their home to a dog, particularly often (28%) those living in rural areas. A. Kozirs points out that a dog should not be regarded as a provider of security at home; nevertheless, a dog’s loud barking can indeed help draw the attention of people nearby to what is happening and deter a burglar from committing a crime.

The holiday season has begun, and residents are leaving the city to enjoy the warm weather or travelling abroad. Before leaving, it is necessary to consider potential security risks, including the risk of burglary, and take care of security in good time. Closed windows, secure locks, an alarm system and informing neighbours are the basic measures that should be taken before leaving for an extended period. Owners of private houses must also not forget about the yard—lawnmowers, bicycles, scooters and trampolines must all be safely stored behind locked doors.

Every year, Gjensidige Latvija receives around 90 claims relating to burglaries, so it is important to include contents insurance in your insurance policy, which would help cover losses resulting from stolen equipment.

To remind residents of the need to pay attention to protecting their homes against burglaries, the State Police and Gjensidige Latvija invite residents to consult the security advice at: www.drossmajoklis.lv.

*A representative opinion survey was conducted in February 2019 by the market research company “Nielsen”. During the study, 1,600 Latvian residents were surveyed.