LONDON, January 26, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --
To mark their
125th anniversary, UIA Insurance poll
the nation to discover the long-lasting impact of home burglaries
and the UK's most prized possessions
Six out of ten burglary victims don't ever feel secure in their
homes again, research revealed yesterday.
(Photo:
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150126/727003-INFO )
Experts who polled 1,000 adults who have been burgled found the
trauma of a person breaking into their home has a long-lasting
impact - the average victim takes seven months to return to some
level of normality in their home.
But with many never feeling fully secure, a quarter of victims
have subsequently had to move house after intruders broke into
their home in order to feel safe once more.
Commissioned by UIA Insurance to mark their 125th
anniversary, the research also saw the emotional impact increases
depending on what was taken - four in ten lost sentimental items
that were of little monetary value but 'irreplaceable' to them.
Yesterday Ian Cracknell, Chief
Executive of UIA Insurance said: "The emotional impact of a
stranger entering your home uninvited can outweigh the physical
losses that take place and, as the results show, getting that
feeling of security back again can be challenging.
"The feeling that your home space has been violated or in some
way tainted can make it hard for homeowners to ever feel safe
again.
"Having the proper measures in place to ensure you're as
protected as possible can make the difference in gaining peace of
mind around your home."
The study also found six in ten said their home felt tainted or
spoiled after the break-in.
Over a third said the event caused a huge knock to their
confidence and a fifth struggled to be on their own after they had
been broken into. More than half said being burgled left them angry
for months after the event.
And closure is hard to get, with the burglars avoiding being
caught or prosecuted in more than two thirds of the burglaries
studied.
In fact, the emotional upset at being a victim of crime caused
the most grief for those who had been burgled, while the pain
experienced by the loss of sentimental items outweighed that of
losing more practical goods.
The most commonly stolen items were jewellery, followed by
electronic gadgets like an mp3 player, cameras and games
consoles.
But photos and family heirlooms proved the most distressing
items to lose, results showed.
Over two thirds had items stolen they deemed 'very expensive'
like televisions, laptops and even paintings or other
valuables.
A quarter of people saw their property 'trashed' following the
break in, with damage to windows and furniture or general vandalism
inside their home common.
While a smashed window was the most common method of gaining
entry by criminals breaking a door was the second most likely.
Ian Cracknell added: "We
understand the impact this can have on people on a long-term basis,
which is why UIA Insurance has assured customers that we will
respond to claims promptly and we will make a payment within 3 days
of a claims settlement being agreed."
TOP 10 MOST COMMONLY STOLEN ITEMS
- Jewellery
- Electrical gadgets - mp3 player, camera, games console
etc.
- Laptop/computer
- TV
- Clothing
- Ornaments
- Alcohol
- Furniture
- Bicycles
- Toys
TOP 10 'MOST VALUED' ITEMS STOLEN
- Family heirlooms
- Family photographs
- Jewellery
- Money
- Laptop/computer
- Other electricals such as mp3 player, camera, games consoles
etc
- TV
- Car
- Clothing
- Ornaments
To request a quote or find out more about home insurance from
UIA, please visit uia.co.uk/moreinfo. Alternatively, join in on the
discussion on the UIA insurance Twitter page @UIAinsurance using
#UIA125, the UIA insurance Facebook page
(https://www.facebook.com/UIAInsurance) or Linked In page
(https://uk.linkedin.com/company/uia-insurance-ltd).
Notes to Editor
UIA is a mutual insurance company which has been providing high
quality cover for 125 years to members of selected trade unions and
other like-minded individuals, seeking competitive premiums, wide
cover and the highest standards of service on home insurance,
travel insurance, pet insurance and car insurance.
UIA insurance follows a set of principles which enable it to
keep premiums low, provide excellent products, deliver great
service and employ highly trained staff. These principles are:
- Our service - Our customer service team always
gives policyholders the time they need on the phone; there is no
pressure to keep calls short and the team can deal with any
enquiry, from underwriting to claims to account queries.
- Our products - answering our customers' needs,
exceeding their expectations
- Our partners - sharing a principled approach to
business; we only work with partners and suppliers who have similar
values to us.
- Our people - We offer tailored training and
development programmes and encourage staff to absorb new skills to
achieve their full potential.
- Our community - We support many different
initiatives throughout the year, including the NASUWT Young
Activist of the Year Award through to UIA's own charitable
foundation.
- Our governance - We will always work closely with
partners to promote our industry and the markets within which we
operate. We always act responsibly and in a manner that is
accountable to our customers and regulators.