Published in on Sunday, May 03 2009 by Ideal Debt Solutions
Since the recession tightened its grip on the personal finances of individuals across the UK earlier this year, homeowners have been provided with many reasons to worry. The majority of these concerns have revolved around how to pay the next electricity bill whilst coping with rising food prices at a time when redundancies and pay cuts are becoming the norm. However, last week, the leading insurer in the UK, Norwich Union, revealed another reason to feel anxious: a fifty per cent increase in household burglaries could be recorded by the end of this year.
As unemployment spreads across the country, desperation and criminality are sadly following in its footsteps and the insurance company has revealed its fears that homeowners in the UK face losing approximately £421 million in stolen belongings. The economic crisis has seen many individuals falling into the vicious circle of debt and becoming the victim of a burglary can be a further blow to personal finances.
As is often the case when potentially alarming statistics such as these are unveiled, many people have started to panic unnecessarily. Whilst Simon Warsop, the director of home pricing at Norwich Union, was keen to express his concern about the figures, he was also quick to point out that people should not feel like helpless victims of crimes waiting to happen. Warsop stated that “these figures don’t have to be inevitable: ensuring windows and doors are properly locked, sheds are secured and properties kept in good order can all deter the opportunistic burglars”.
Following these simple guidelines will ensure that you are giving yourself the best chance of escaping opportunistic burglary and the financial ramifications which can arise from such events. Remember that the impact of burglary upon your personal finances can be minimised by taking out a proper insurance policy and you should make sure that all your valuables are listed under this policy. Norwich Union revealed that the prime targets for opportunistic thieves include games consoles, DVDs, cameras, personal computers, and mobile phones.
If you are struggling to cope with debt at this time of financial uncertainty, you should consider contacting a professional personal finance company for help drawing up an effective debt management plan.