When you’ve worked hard and spent time amassing a collection of your most treasured items, the last thing you want is for anything to go missing or to be damaged, leaving you at a loss.
From jewellery to gadgets, sentimental items to those of great value, ensuring that you take good care of these valuables will leave you free to enjoy life without worrying about the security of your possessions. With that in mind, we take a look at some of the bigger ticket items that you might own and the important aspects you should consider when it comes to their security.
Bank accounts
Protecting your money by managing your bank account well is one of the things you should think about first and foremost. To ensure your funds remain safe at all times, make sure you use strong passwords for every account – they should be different from each other, as using the same combination for multiple bank accounts means that if one of them is targeted, all can be accessed. A password manager can help you remember all of them and two-factor authentication can also enhance security measures. Be wary of using public Wi-Fi networks to conduct transactions, since everyone can connect to them, and your information and private details could potentially become available to strangers.
If your accounts were targeted as a result of a data breach that occurred because of your provider failing in their duty of care towards you, don’t be afraid to seek out a how to sue guide that will take you through all steps of the process, from talking to a solicitor to amassing the necessary evidence to help your case have a better chance in court and ensure you receive the maximum amount of compensation you deserve.
Jewellery
Jewellery is one of those few assets that never loses its value, in fact, items only become pricier and more valuable as time passes. If you own antiques that are at least a century old, you’ll already know that they’re exceedingly rare and, therefore, more expensive than anything you could buy at a shop. To keep jewellery safe, make sure you have a designated location where you keep all your items and also make a habit of putting them back straight after using them, this way, if something is missing, you’ll know right away.
Heirloom pieces should be formally appraised and documented by a licensed professional who will provide you with written documentation regarding the item’s description and value. You should also consider investing in a safe box. If that sounds like an exaggerated measure, keep in mind that statistics show that in 2022, over two billion in jewellery and precious metals were stolen in the United States. Of this amount, only 44.52 million were ever recovered.
Jewellery is one of the commodities that is most likely to get stolen by thieves. The items are directly targeted, and most burglars are successful in their attempts, so make sure to keep your safe hidden and the combination secret to ensure the risk of it being breached is minimal.
Artwork
Like jewellery, high-end artwork is incredibly precious due to their scarcity and uniqueness. You’ll not only want to ensure that items are safe from theft, but also from things in the environment that could damage it and reduce their value. Direct sunlight is one of the most common culprits, minimal exposure it’s typically nothing to worry about, but you won’t want to take any risks.
Humidity will also take its toll on paintings, as can temperature. Both cooling and heating units can be damaging and make the materials less resilient. You won’t need to display jewellery, and keeping it hidden will be its main asset when it comes to protection, but art is a different matter altogether, displaying it is the entire point of its appeal.
One way to keep them secure is to get some special, wall-mounted T-head screws that are installed into special brackets on the back of the frame. The only way to remove them is with a security key, making theft much less likely. Some of the extra measures include wall support brackets and security wrenches.
Gadgets
Devices are indispensable to daily life, and most people use theirs on a daily basis, meaning there’ll be a lot of hassle that comes with having one of them stolen. It’s not just about the financial cost of getting a new one, it’s also about the risk of your private information being accessed and used for fraudulent purposes. Make sure to have all of your items safely stored at all times to reduce the risk of theft.
Burglars will usually move to get the things they can get their hands on first, so easy access means easy pickings. Laptops can be physically secured with lockdown plates. Smaller items such as tablets, external hard drives, smartwatches and smartphones you’re not using can be kept in more unexpected places, where they’re more challenging to reach, or nobody would think to look for them, such as behind a stack of books.
Cars
Vehicles, especially luxury ones, are a favourite target of thieves for evident reasons. It always pays to be aware of your surroundings when parking your car in a different area from what you’re typically used to – busy, well-lit places are more likely to be safer. Look for the best anti-theft devices that you can fit into your car to ensure it is secure, sometimes, the simple sight of one of these devices will be enough to deter would-be burglars from carrying out an attack.
An engine immobiliser is one of the most obvious choices and, of course, an alarm helps as well. Remember to also be careful when at home – keep the garage door closed and locked at all times and invest in a security camera that can alert you if someone attempts to steal your vehicle.
Final thoughts
Taking care of all your items at all times can be challenging as there are so many things you need to take into account, but it’s essential to make sure that you take all the necessary measures to keep all your valuables safe and sound and to give you peace of mind.
