Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Theft?

Burglary and theft are situations no homeowner wants to face. And though you do what you can to keep your home secure, the unexpected can happen to anyone. The good news is that homeowners insurance can help financially protect you by covering the cost to replace or repair items that were stolen or damaged from a break in. It can even help protect you when you’re on the go!

Let’s find out exactly how your homeowners insurance protects you from theft.

Insurance for Stolen Property

From your electronics to your tools or your bicycle, the personal property coverage on your homeowners insurance policy helps to repair or replace stolen or damaged belongings. It’s important to know that your personal property coverage has a limit, meaning, after you pay your deductible (which is the amount you pay before your insurance kicks in), you’ll only be covered up to a certain amount.

It’s key to understand the total value of all your personal property, including individual item amounts, so you can better select a coverage limit. And it’s also valuable to have if your home experiences covered events like theft or fire.

Creating a home inventory is a smart way to keep a detailed list of your property and its value. This will help you greatly if you need to file a claim. Take a look at our tips for creating a home inventory.

Homeowners Insurance and Jewelry Theft

Valuable items, like jewelry, have set limits of coverage. For example, we’ll only cover up to $2,000 of your jewelry. So if your jewelry surpasses that limit, you’ll want to consider itemizing those valuables. Itemizing allows you to choose a coverage amount that matches the value of your item, whether it’s a ring, piece of art, an antique or another expensive treasured items. Find out more about insuring your jewelry and how itemizing your personal property gives you a broader range of coverage.

Will Homeowners Insurance Cover Stolen Cash?

Home insurance covers you if you have cash stolen, but it’ll only cover you up to a certain amount, usually $200-$300. It’s a good idea to protect your hard-earned money from theft of cash by keeping it secure and in a fireproof location.

Dwelling Coverage for Damaged Structures Due to Theft

If someone kicked in your front door, broke through a window or destroyed your locks to get into your home, the dwelling coverage on your homeowners policy will help cover the cost to repair or replace the structure of your home.

Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Theft of Items in Your Car?

While, your home insurance does cover theft from your car, you’ll have to pay your deductible first, so it’s a good idea to also check with your vehicle’s comprehensive coverage. For example, if someone were to steal your iPod from your vehicle, you may be able to have your auto policy help cover the cost.

Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Theft Away From Home?

A great feature of your home insurance personal property coverage is that whether you’re at home or away from it, it can help protect your belongings from covered events listed on your policy, like theft.

How to Claim Stolen Property to Insurance

If you do experience a theft and need to file a home insurance claim, here are the specific steps to the theft insurance claims process you’ll want to follow:

• Call the police and file a police report.
• Contact the insurance company as soon as possible to notify them of the claim. This is because some insurance policies have a time limit on submitting a theft claim.
• Provide photos or videos or any damage to the home after a theft or burglary.
• Work with the insurance company to review the homeowners policy and investigate the claim.

Remember that home inventory you created earlier? This is a prime time to use it, since you’ll need to present an itemized list of the items that were stolen to your insurance company. You’ll want to include:

• When the item was purchased
• The estimated value of the item
• The brand of the item
• Any receipts or photos of the item

Once all your information is submitted to the insurance company, they’ll review your claim. If it’s covered, you’ll be paid for the stolen or damaged items after paying your deductible.

At American Family Insurance, we know filing a claim can be stressful. That’s why we have a dedicated staff ready to walk you through the process and make things as easy as possible for you. Learn more about filing a claim with American Family.

Learn More About Homeowners Insurance Coverage and Theft Coverage

A great way to protect your home from theft is by having a home security system, like ADT installed. Smart home systems like these can keep your home and family protected.

Hopefully you’ve gained peace of mind knowing your homeowners insurance protects you from theft. Want to learn more about how your home insurance protects you? Here’s a closer look at how home insurance protects you from the unexpected. Your American Family agent (Opens in a new tab)is also an expert resource who can guide you through your coverage — don’t hesitate to connect with your agent if you have any policy questions.

*Discount unavailable if you live in the following states: MN or WA.