IN Bethel Park Fall 2019 | Page 39

INDUSTRY INSIGHT INSURANCE SPONSORED CONTENT COLLEGE BOUND? BEWARE DORM ROOM THIEVES TIPS TO KEEP YOUR POSSESSIONS IN YOUR POSSESSION M ost college kids would tell you they are broke and with student loans the way they are now, that’s not far from the truth. But despite this it doesn’t stop dorm rooms across the nation from being filled with all kinds of high value items from iPads to laptops. And with theft 50% more likely in college dorms and apartments, it’s important to take the right steps to reduce your risk, but if something does happen, will your home insurance respond? The answer to that question is not a simple one, as coverage varies greatly from carrier to carrier. Some companies will cover a student up to 10% of the personal property coverage listed on their parents’ policy. However, some policies may not cover as much, or may not cover a student at all, especially if the student is living off campus, studying abroad or is above a certain age such as 24 or 25. Since every insurance company is different it is important to check with your insurance agent to advise you properly. If a student is not covered by his or her parents’ homeowner’s then they should take out a renter’s policy. This coverage is extremely affordable even on a student’s budget, at just cents a day. 5 Ways to Keep Your Stuff Safe at College The Independent Insurance Agents of America estimates that 100,000 property crimes occur on college and university campuses each year. By following these tips you can avoid becoming part of that statistic. 1. Leave expensive items at home or secure them. Expensive items like jewelry, laptops and other gadgets such as iPods and iPads, are prime targets for thieves. Some of these items that are less necessary, for example, expensive jewelry and video game consoles, may be best left at home. However, high risk items that cannot be left behind, like a student’s laptop, should be locked away while not in use. If you have a bicycle, invest in a good bike lock and use it. 2. Lock your door. This one is simple. If you’re not in your room, keep it locked and if you are on the ground level close and lock your window. Do not leave it wide open when you are not in your room. Most thefts happen during the day while classes are in session. 3. Don’t leave things lying out. This seems like an obvious one, however, back in my days as a student I remember walking into my friend’s dorm room to see a crumpled 50 dollar bill sitting on top of his pile of laundry. Don’t temp fate by leaving money, wallets, car keys, cellphones and the like sitting out in the open. A lot of theft occurs in this simple way. This Industry Insight was provided by the Bill Flinn Agency. For the last 40 years the Bill Flinn Agency has been serving the Bethel Park and South Hills communities. Since opening our doors in 1972, our mission has been to treat our customers by the golden rule. Learn more about us at www.billflinnagency.com, or stop by our office on South Park Road in the heart of Bethel. 4. Remove or conceal items in your vehicle. Dorm rooms aren’t the only place a thief will be looking. Don’t leave iPods and GPS units in plain sight within your car. Keep them hidden or throw them in the trunk as a deterrent. A typical smash and grab theft only takes 30 seconds or less, and can occur no matter where you park your car. 5. Create an inventory of your stuff. Making sure you know what you have makes life a lot easier if you ever have to submit a claim. The best way to do this is to take photos or videos of what you have and keep the tapes or data in a safe place. If you want to get more detailed, an app like Sortly (iOS & android) can help you keep track of everything you own in a searchable database in your pocket. These are a few ways you can dramatically reduce the chance of becoming a victim of campus theft. In the unfortunate circumstance that something were to happen you need to make sure that you have the right coverage in place, and that means talking to an experienced insurance agent. At the Bill Flinn Agency we have been providing this expert advice to our customers for over forty seven years. Give us a call at 412.833.5351 or read more at https://billflinnagency.com/ personal-insurance/renters-insurance/. Most homes are underinsure by an average of 1 Do you have enough Most homes are coverage to rebuild? underinsured by an average of Erie Insurance 100% Guaranteed Company A $47,000 Underinsured Do you have enough coverage to rebuild? Company A $47,000 Underinsured Erie Insurance 100% Guaranteed Company B $51,000 Underinsured 19% * Company B $51,000 Underinsured Company C $38,000 Underinsured Bill Flinn Agency Inc Bill Flinn Agency Inc 2754 S Park Rd 2754 S Park Rd Bethel Park, PA 15102-3858 Bethel Park, PA 15102-3858 www.billflinnagency.com www.billflinnagency.com 412-833-5351 412-833-5351 *64% of homes are undervalued—and potentially underinsured—by 19%, according to Marshall & Swift/Boeckh, a leading provider of building cost data to real estate professionals. **ErieSecure Home SM with Guaranteed Replacement Cost requires home improvements over $5,000 to be reported within 90 days. Coverage of costs to comply with laws or ordinances is subject to limits. Depreciation may be deducted until repair or replacement is made. Visit www.eriesecurehome.com/details or talk to your ERIE Agent for more information. Not all companies are licensed to operate in all states. Go to erieinsurance.com for company licensure and territory information. Equal opportunity insurer. *64% of homes are undervalued—and potentially underinsured—by 19%, according S1420b 5/12 to Ma leading provider of building cost data to real estate professionals. **ErieSecure Home SM with Cost requires home improvements over $5,000 to be reported within 90 days. Coverage o with laws or ordinances is subject to limits. Depreciation may be deducted until repair or re BETHEL PARK FALL 2019 37 information. No Visit www.eriesecurehome.com/details or talk to your ❘ ERIE Agent for more operate in all states. Go to erieinsurance.com for company licensure and territory informati