Theft Risk Hits Close To Home

Newcastle Herald

Tuesday April 3, 2007

By SARAH-KATE SCICLUNA

HAMILTON is the second worst suburb in NSW for home theft, an analysis of 2006 insurance claims by AAMI has shown.

Alexandria, in Sydney's inner-west, topped of the insurer's list of home theft hot spots, with Hamilton the only non-Sydney suburb among the state's five worst.

By contrast, Shoal Bay in Port Stephens ranked among the five suburbs in the state with the lowest incidence of home theft.

Orange, in the state's central west, was rated the safest, followed by Sydney's Sans Souci and Shoal Bay, with Goulburn and Bowral, in the state's south, fourth and fifth respectively.

Rings were the top stolen item, followed by necklaces and digital cameras, the data also found.

Earrings, bracelets, watches, power tools and televisions were also popular with thieves.

Senior Constable Tony Tamplin said home security was mostly commonsense.

"Basic house security is pretty simple. Take a walk around your house and try and break in. If you can get in, then someone who makes their living out of it would be able to," he said.

"Ensure your doors and windows are locked properly. Ensure you have strong doors, good locks, sensor lights."

AAMI corporate affairs manager Selina O'Connor urged residents to consider home security when going away on holidays.

"Check there are no obvious signs that your home is unattended," she said.

Uncollected mail and newspapers were a dead giveaway, as were recorded answer machine messages advising of your absence.

"Also, ensure that your home contents insurance is up-to-date and accurately reflects the value of your possessions and the items you have within your home," she said.

HOW THEY RATE

NSW's

home theft

hot spots

1. Alexandria

2. HAMILTON

3. Erskineville

4. Mascot

5. Parramatta

Lowest

incidence of

home theft

1. Orange

2. Sans Souci

3. SHOAL BAY

4. Goulburn

5. Bowral

© 2007 Newcastle Herald

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