Crime warning for South African households

Insurance experts have warned South African households to ensure their insurance policies are up to date. The Easter holiday is a prime period for criminals to take advantage of empty homes.

Easter is approaching, and most people will travel during this period. Before they leave, households must ensure they have the right cover to protect their belongings.

This is the advice from Infiniti Insurance, which highlighted that robberies and burglaries are rising in South Africa, and criminals planning to take advantage of the holiday season.

“Amidst the increasing tide of house robberies and burglaries sweeping across the country, reviewing and updating your household contents insurance has become an absolute necessity for all households,” it said.

The latest Statistic SA Governance, Public Safety and Justice Survey 2023/2024 paints a grim picture, revealing housebreaking and burglary as the most frequently reported crimes plaguing South African households.

The survey’s findings show an alarming increase in burglaries and robberies, with a 4.6% and 7.2% rise, respectively, from 2022/23 to 2023/24.

Even more concerning is the steady upward trajectory of households falling victim to these crimes since 2021/22.

The pervasive nature of the risk is highlighted by the fact that home robbery was the second most common crime experienced by households in the five years preceding the survey.

Although the latest crime stats from the South African Police Service (SAPS) show a slight year-on-year decline, burglaries and robberies at residential premises in South Africa remain alarmingly high.

The data shows that 35,754 home burglaries were recorded between October and December 2024, translating to an average of 397 break-ins per day.

House robberies—where criminals confront homeowners directly—are less common but still concerning, with 6,259 cases recorded in the same period, or 70 per day.

Make sure your valuables are covered

In light of these statistics, Sharon Paterson, CEO of Infiniti Insurance, stressed the importance of covering household contents to safeguard against the financial fallout of burglary or house robbery.

“This cover acts as a safety net, protecting you against damages or losses to the contents of your residence,” she explained.

“Essentially, everything you’d take with you when moving to a new home is covered by the household content policy.”

She advises homeowners or tenants to review and update their policies annually or whenever they buy new, valuable items like furniture or appliances.

“They must also ensure that their contents are insured for their correct value. Your content should be covered for the estimated replacement cost, which is the cost of buying a similar new item.”

“However, it’s important to note that most insurance policies will only pay the replacement cost in proportion to the insured amount,” she added.

Paterson further explained that clients must note that many factors influence the cost of household content insurance.

These factors include location-specific elements like natural disasters, crime rates, the areas in which the property is located, and the claims volume.

“The size of your home and the desired level of coverage also play a significant role in determining the final cost. The value of your belongings is another key factor affecting premiums.”

“For particularly valuable items, insurers may require them to be specified on the policy and may request a valuation certificate to ascertain their worth.”

She said that implementing safety measures to mitigate the risk of loss can be an effective way to reduce home insurance premiums.

Many insurers also offer discounts for installing monitored burglar alarm systems, fire alarms or smoke detectors.

Bundling home and auto insurance with the same provider can also lead to substantial savings. Additionally, Paterson emphasises the importance of thoroughly reading and understanding your insurance policy.

“Your insurance policy is the blueprint that outlines what is and isn’t covered in the event of a burglary or theft. Familiarise yourself with its terms to avoid any unpleasant surprises.”