Thieves are always looking to make a quick steal for different items and good. If it happens to you it can quickly become overwhelming to file a report with your insurance, having to prove the worth of each item that was stolen and arguing with them when they undervalue your items. To make things easier talk to a public adjuster to save you the headache!
What Substitute As Vandalism and Theft By Your Insurance Company
West Palm is home to many beautiful homes and neighborhoods. Vandalism and theft is easily spotted especially in your own vicinity. It can be a stressful situation because you must get authorities involved and if the damage is bad, you either must fix it yourself or file an insurance claim. However, your insurance can cover a multitude of damages. It will either depend on what’s on your current policy or if the damages are severe enough for you to get reimbursed. Here is a list of things that can be get you the reimbursement that you need, such as:
- If you have broken windows or lights in and outside of your property
- If you noticed that your yard is dug up or your trees are cut
- If someone egged your house
- If there’s a fire in your home
- If someone broke or messed with your plumbing system
- If you notice that your locks were tampered with or glued shut.
Things to Do After
It’s bad enough that your home has been burglarized or vandalized and now you’re wondering what to do next. Look into:
- Calling the police and report the burglary or vandalism, make sure to get a copy of the police report, your insurance company would want this when you’re filing a claim.
- Contacting your insurance policy about the stolen and/or broken items.
- Giving any police/fire reports to your insurance company.
- If your property was vandalized, you should get the coverage for any broken windows, lights or doors and the damages made inside your home if its applicable.
- They will later then give you an estimated value of each item that you’ve listed.
Got Denied or Underpaid?
You’re at the point in the insurance process where you either get denied or got a settlement for less than the value of your belongings. Well you are not alone! Many people across the nation, are going through the same thing. So what do you do next? The best solution is to hire a public adjuster! Churchill’s public adjusters are aware and experienced in various insurance claims especially vandalism and theft claims. Contact us for a free consultation!
How to Prevent Vandalism and Theft
- The simplest way to prevent vandalism and theft is to invest in security cameras and motion detectors.
- Never tell anyone you’re going out of town
- Keep your valuables safe and hide them.
- Always close your windows, doors and garage if you have one (most homes in West Palm have garages)
- Keep your yard clean
- Be nice to your neighbors so that way they can look out for your home and vice versa if there’s something bad occurring.
FAQ
What’s the similarity and differences between vandalism and theft?
Vandalism and theft are alike in the sense that both result as a crime and could be sentenced to prison depending on the severity of the case. The difference is that vandalism is a malicious intent to destroy a person’s property that isn’t owned by them. Theft is when a person steals someone’s personal belongings without getting permission from them.
If there’s a break in and a damaged has been made to my property will I get coverage for that?
Be sure to let your insurance company know of the break ins and they will mostly cover you for any repairs that need to be done.
How are the items value determined?
Insurance companies hire property appraisals from different companies that allow them to reduce the replacement amount which is why sometimes you get less than what you paid for on an insurance claim.
How do I prove the loss to my insurance company if I don’t have any documentation?
In majority of cases like this, the insurance company will conduct an inspection on your property, look through the police report that was done or if it was done and review your recorded statement. They will then decide on how they would value each of the items that you’ve lost. It will take a little longer because they have no choice but to accept your credibility.
