LOSSES BY BURGLARY

Evening Star, Issue 17924, 21 March 1922, Page 3

LOSSES BY BURGLARY

In the experience of an English burglary insurance manager, extending over thirty years, there have never been so many claims under policies for . burglaries and thefts as during the last three years. Insurance managers generally also report a large number of claims in respect of lost articles.

Burglary claims have been heavy, both in respect of commercial and domestic risks. An increase of claims for fires has long been regarded by insurance oorn-panie-s as' a consequential evil of trade. To put the position mildly, there is not iho same inducement to take every precaution to prevent fires when tho value of stocks is falling. But the increase of burglaries cannot be regarded, at any rate, as due solely to bad trade, although unemployment has'undoubtedly led to a certain number of robberies. The epidemic was very serious in 1919, when trade was active, and it was then attributed mainly to a deterioration of the standard of morality caused by tho war. The use of motor vehicles is also considered to have contributed to-robberies on a large scale. As regards private houses and flats, it appears that both the presence and absence of domestic servants is to some extent held responsible. In some cases there has been reason to believe that the entry and exit of thieves has been facilitated by maids in the building. In other cases it seemed possible that information concerning the movements of the inmates of tho house had been divulged by those employed there. On the other hand, there is ■'■ general concensus of opinion that many f the robberies are due to the fact that ''■quently houses and flats are left withit occupants. Many people who, when living was cheaper and taxation less onerous, could afford to have domestic help, can no longer do so, with trie result that premises are frequently and often regularly left unoccupied. Tho habits of tho tenants then become known. Insurance mamtgors are agreed that empty premises provide a great opportunity foT robberies A sign of hard times seems to be that in the experience of firo insurance companies many more claims than formerly are mado in respect of damage to carpets, rugs, and clothing through sparks flying out from coal fires and similar causes. At cue time, no doubt, people hesitated to make such claims, but now numerous claims are presented for quite small sums, as well as in the case of lost articles for amounts which would suggest that the possessors were persons of considerable wealth.