Counting the cost of beach theft

With the aim of making beachgoers more security conscious, New Zealand insurers State Insurance have released advice that thefts of valuables at the beach cost victims an average of more than $2000.

Urging beachgoers to secure their valuables, State Insurance’s research, conducted in conjunction with IAG, into claims data for all New Zealand over the 12 months to 30th November 2015 revealed just over a third (34%t) of all thefts from beaches happened in the Auckland region, with an average cost of more than $2,000.

The research showed that more than a quarter (29%) of beach thefts involved items being stolen from vehicles, while another common cause (16%) was items being stolen from the beach while their owner was swimming.

State Insurance General Manager Claims Ruth Colenso said the findings highlighted the need to stay vigilant and take advantage of opportunities to keep your belongings safe.

Colenso stated “many people choose to head to their favourite beach to help relax over the summer months but we would encourage them not to relax their approach to keeping their personal belongings secure.”

State Insurance Claims Technical Manager Chris Lysaght said a common sense approach would go a long way to keeping your belongs safer at the beach, adding “if you’re heading to the beach then consider leaving valuables you don’t need at home, that way you won’t be tempted to leave them unattended in a car.

“If you do have to leave them in a car make sure they’re not in plain sight, and not covered by a towel or blanket as that can raise questions in a thief’s mind of what goodies may be covered up”.

State Insurance and police throughout the Auckland and Bay of Plenty region are both providing assistance to beach goers to help keep your belongings safer this summer.

To help keep beachgoers’ valuables safer while you go for dip, State is providing temporary beach lockers at several beaches over January and February.

For a gold coin donation to Surf Life Saving New Zealand, beachgoers can stow their belongings away in a locker while they enjoy the beach. 

Beach image used for illustrative purposes only.

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