Holiday hints to keep ourselves safe over the Christmas break

With only 10 sleeps ‘till Christmas, AMI has revealed its top 10 holiday hints to keep your most important possessions – your house, your contents and your car, as well as your family - safe over the Christmas period.

The advice comes from AMI’s Resident Insurance Expert Chris Kiddey, who talks from personal experience as he plans for his Christmas holiday.

“I’m about to embark on the great Kiwi road trip, jumping in a car with my family, travelling the length of the South Island. But we have to face facts – bad things can happen when we’re on holiday,” he says.

“So, thinking about this in advance of my own trip, so what are the top 10 things I’m going to do to protect me, my things and my family while I’m away?

1. “When I leave my house, I’m going to do a couple of things so it doesn’t look deserted – put a couple of lights on a timer, get a friend to empty the mail and drop in once or twice, make himself a cup of tea. I may be even get someone to house sit or get a neighbour to park in the driveway. Don’t leave open invitations to opportunist thieves driving down your street.

2. “I’m going to be making sure while we’re on holiday that the car is locked and alarmed and that valuable items are stashed carefully out of sight, or else we will take them with us. This is the same no matter where you are – in the country as well as the city.
3. “I hope to spend lots of time on the beach, and when I’m there one particular trick is to use an old sunscreen container or something to store jewellery, keys and cash. It’s one of those simple things that won’t outright remove all risk but will reduce it dramatically.
4. “Also, don’t park in an isolated spot. And if you are in a row of cars, make sure yours isn’t the one with something valuable left in a visible position. You know which one will be broken into and you don’t want it to be yours.

5. “In advance of your summer road trip, get your car checked out – in my case the tyres had to be replaced and wheel alignment done. But I feel so much safer now on the open road.
6. “Please stick to the speed limit. No matter how good a driver you think you are, you have no idea about the abilities of the other drivers on the road.

7. “Take plenty of rests, and share the driving to make sure the driver is awake and alert at all times.
8. “Make sure you have a good first aid kit, bottled water and a fire extinguisher in the car, so you can look after the safety of everyone onboard – and anyone you might happen to meet.

9. “With regard to Christmas decorations, don’t use old, dodgy Christmas lights (LED lights are best). In fact don’t do anything that risks setting your Christmas tree on fire.
10. “And finally, your personal safety and that of your friends and family is obviously even more important than looking after your possessions. So, if you’re out in the sun, wear a hat, apply sunscreen and swim between the flags at the beach. Oh, and be a tidy Kiwi!”

Chris says these are all basic common-sense tips, but they’re all particularly important right now because this is the time of the year when crime and other statistics drastically increase – burglaries and theft in particular.

Chris is always keen to answer any questions customers might have about this or other insurance topics.

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