The top ten things to forget and worry about before break

Media release 17 December 2015

The top ten things to forget and worry about before break

Nothing spoils a relaxing holiday like returning to a burgled or damaged home, yet the top priority for New Zealanders heading away for a break this summer won’t be asking their neighbours to keep an eye on their place, it will be remembering to bring their phone charger, says AMI Insurance.

According to a survey commissioned by IAG NZ (IAG trades in New Zealand under AMI, State, NZI, Lumley and Lantern brands) through Nielsen, more than half of all New Zealanders (57 per cent) said taking their phone or tablet charger with them was their top priority when heading away on holiday.

The next highest priority for holiday-makers before heading away was checking their car was road-worthy (52 per cent), followed by asking their neighbours to keep an eye on their property while they were away (50 per cent).

Just 6 per cent said they considered installing a home alarm system a top priority, despite almost half (48 per cent) admitting they worried about being burgled and one quarter having left their house on at least one occasion with either the doors or windows wide open.

AMI Retail Network head Wayne Tippet said most burglaries were crimes of opportunity and that common sense went a long way to helping avoid a nasty surprise when you return from your holiday.

“Unfortunately theft can and does happen everywhere,” Tippet said. “It doesn’t matter where you are or how well you know your neighbours, you should always take precautions to ensure you’re not advertising your absence.”

Here are AMI’s tips to avoid the tell-tale signs that you’re away:

• Lock up. It might seem like common sense, but it's easy to forget. Check that all doors and windows are locked, and remove keys from window locks.

• Mail and deliveries. If you’ll be gone for more than a couple of days, arrange for someone to clear your letterbox (including newspapers, directories etc).

• Rubbish bins. A home without rubbish shows no-one is home. Why not ask a neighbour to wheel your bin to the curb (and return it!), while you are away. Not too early though, as putting the rubbish out before it’s being collected is also a sign that you’re away.

• Car on driveway. If possible, leave a car in the driveway or get a friend to park there while you’re away. In the longer term, however, it’s a good idea to always park your car in the garage with the door closed when you’re home. That way, no one will notice a change when you're gone.

• Telephone noise. If you have a landline, reduce the ringer volume, and never leave an answer-phone message saying that you are away.

• Keeping up appearances. Ask a neighbour to pop in occasionally, and help make the house look occupied: turning lights on and off, drawing the curtains, watering the plants etc. (If you can’t get someone to do this, leave your curtains open.)

• Security measures. Outdoor security lighting, having indoor lights and appliances like the radio on timer switches will also help give the impression that you’re home.

• Put your tools away. Store all tools and ladders – anything that could help thieves break into your house.

• Garden’s a giveaway. If your garden is normally neat and trimmed, be sure to have someone mow the lawn for you.

The top ten priorities for New Zealanders when heading away for a holiday are:

1. Taking your phone/ tablet charger (57%)

2. If driving, checking you have a current Warrant of Fitness and your car is roadworthy (52%)

3. Asking your neighbours to look after your house/ flat/ garden while you are away (50%)

4. If driving, avoiding travelling at peak traffic times (43%)

5. Finding someone to look after your pets/ animals (if you have them) (42%)

6. If driving, planning regular breaks on your route (31%)

7. Taking a first aid kit (18%)

8. Arranging or checking your insurance in case you lose your things/ have them stolen (16%)

9. Redirecting your mail/ suspending regular deliveries e.g. groceries (15%)

10. If driving, planning your route to avoid accident black spots (13%)

* Survey results are based on an online survey of a representative sample of the national population aged 15 plus, conducted from 29 October to 4 November this year by Nielsen. The survey had a sample size of 702 with a predicted maximum margin of error is ±3.7%. The results were weighted by age, gender and region to be representative of the online population.

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