LOSSES BY BURGLARY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18020, 20 February 1922, Page 7

LOSSES BY BURGLARY.

EXPERIENCE IN ENGLAND. In the experience of a burglary insurance manager extending for 30 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 lias long been regarded by insurance companies as a consequential evil of poor trade. To put the position mildly, there is not tho same inducement to take every precaution to prevent fires when the value of stocks <s falling. But tho increase of burglaries cannot bo regarded at any rate as due solely to bad trade, although unemployment has undoubtedly led to a certain number of tho 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 the 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 seme cases there has been reason to believe that the entry and exit of thieves has been facilitated by maids ir; the building. In other cases it seemed possible that information concerning the movements of the inmates of the house had been divulged by those employed there. On the other hand, there is a "general consensus of opinion that, many of tie robberies are due to the fact that, frequently, houses and flats are left without occupants. Many people who, when living was cheaper and taxation was less onerous, could afford to have domestic help, can no longer do so, with tho result that premises are frequently, and often regularly, left unoccupied. Ihe habits of the tenants then become known. Insurance managers are agreed that emptv premises provide a great opportunity for robberies. A sign of hard times seems to be that in the experience of fire insurance cornLies many more claims than formerly are made in respect of damage to carpets, rues and clothing through sparks flying 0 „t from coal fires and similar •causes. At one time, no doubt, people hesitated w. make such claims, but now numerous claims are presented for mite small sums, „ well as in thc case of lo6t art !° les f u° r amounts which would suggest that the possessors were persons of considerable wealth. _____ --^«— «—.