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