Home insurance 'can provide peace of mind'
Date: 18/07/2008 12:00:00
Homeowners have been advised to ensure their own peace of mind by protecting themselves with
home insurance and simple security measures.
Virgin Money offered the advice in response to an announcement by the justice secretary that property owners have the right to use force against criminals who may break into their homes.
However, statistics from the National Home Office have revealed that the number of burglaries in the UK has fallen over the last few years.
Research carried out by Virgin Money revealed that while more than one in six homeowners keep a weapon close to their bed and 92 per cent claimed they would be prepared to physically defend their house, only 17 per cent have had an alarm fitted while 22 per cent have no content insurance and 38 per cent have no building cover.
Grant Bather, spokesperson at Virgin Money, said: "The fear is that softer sentencing for burglars or the announcement by the justice secretary will encourage people to take the law into their own hands."
The company recommends fitting an alarm and window locks, joining a Neighbourhood Watch scheme and purchasing adequate cover.