Simple steps to help World Cup fans stay happy during June

With the World Cup on the horizon, for many, football excitement is reaching near fever pitch.

However, new research from Zurich warns fans not to leave themselves vulnerable to thieves who could dampen the atmosphere as much as Wayne Rooney's metatarsal.
 
The research reveals:

•  4.5 million people are planning to watch games in pubs and bars
  
• Nearly 1.5 million are planning to go to friends' or relatives' houses

Martin Hall, Head of Home Underwriting at Zurich Insurance says:
"Our research has found that at least 6 million people are planning to leave their homes to watch the football next month, that means a lot of empty houses and distracted home owners. 

"We would like to remind homeowners that an empty home can mean rich pickings for thieves - it's worth remembering that not all burglars are football fans; they could be 'on the ball' spotting empty houses.  So while you're out supporting your country, opportunist burglars could be looking for empty properties, safe in the knowledge that the occupants aren't going to be home for at least another 90 minutes.

"We've got practical advice for homeowners about basic home security measures which might be useful, not just over the World Cup months, but all-year-round too. These hints and tips range from remembering to lock all windows and doors to investing in a burglar alarm, and from leaving your TV on while you're out to checking your home contents cover."

To safeguard your home and help prevent burglary, Zurich suggests taking the following action when you're away from home:

•  Be security conscious at all times.  For example, remember to lock your doors and close downstairs windows.
  
• Invest in a burglar alarm, window locks and mortice locks for external doors and don't forget to use them when you leave the house.  Enhanced security measures will make it harder for potential thieves to get in but will also present an additional obstruction for those trying to make a quick exit with your possessions.  (Depending on the nature of the risk you ask your insurer to cover, it may insist on measures of this type being in place).
  
• Don't leave a spare key concealed anywhere near the front door - most burglars will be familiar with common hiding places.
  
• Leaving lights on, closing the curtains or even perhaps leaving the radio/TV on when you go out after dark makes it harder for burglars to discern whether the owner is at home.
  
• Don't leave car keys, money or valuables laying around: the British Crime Survey reports 39 per cent of burglars take cash and 23 per cent steal jewellery. It may be worth investing in a professionally- installed safe for particularly expensive or irreplaceable items.
  
• Ensure your home contents insurance is kept up to date and try to keep a record of receipts and even photographs of particularly valuable or irreplaceable items.
  
• Mark important and expensive possessions (e.g. computer or DVD player) with your postcode and house number using special security markers, which you can buy in any hardware or DIY store. Keep a record of the make, model and serial numbers of all your electrical equipment so if police recover them after the burglary, you can prove the goods are yours.
  
• Check the level of cover for replacement keys and locks provided with your home insurance policy. The limits will vary from one insurer to another. Zurich, for example, pays the reasonable cost of replacing locks to your home if you lose your house keys.

What to do if you are burgled

• Call the Police immediately.
• If you feel the burglar may still be in your property, don't enter or if you're inside the home make sure you get out immediately. Either go to a neighbour's house and call the Police or call them from a mobile if you have one. Don't put yourself at risk - wait for the Police to arrive.
• Don't touch anything until after the Police have arrived.
• Ask the Police if they want you to start making a list of what's been taken.
• Once the Police have arrived they will take all the details of the crime and give you a crime number - you'll need this to make a claim to your insurance company.
• There may be damage done to your home as a result of the burglary. If so, you should be able to claim back any costs from your insurer if you have buildings as well as home contents insurance.

Zurich Financial Services Group (Zurich) is an insurance-based financial services provider with a global network of subsidiaries and offices in North America and Europe as well as in Asia Pacific, Latin America and other markets. Founded in 1872, the Group is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland. It employs approximately 55,000 people serving customers in more than 120 countries