Insurance Services is today warning people to be more vigilant when hidingvaluables in the home by keeping them in a safe, locked place.

New research from Age Concern Insurance Services showsthat nearly half (47 per cent) of those surveyed hide their most valuable itemsin a household drawer.    The poll also revealed some go to greaterlengths to hide their valuables in places like the fridge/freezer, an emptybaked bean can in a food cupboard and within a pair of socks.

Nearly half (46 per cent) consider jewellery to bethe most expensive item in their home to replace and laptops came second withnearly one in five (19 per cent).  Othermore sentimental possessions people hide to keep safe include relatives? warmedals.

According to the most recent figures from theBritish Crime Survey, an estimated 726,000** domestic burglaries took place in2006/07.  Although overall burglaries aredown four per cent**, Age Concern and the Metropolitan Police provides some toptips**** to protect yourself against a break in:

• Remove temptation ? where possible, try to keep valuables out of sight to potential burglars by removing them from windowsills etc.
• Never leave a spare key concealed anywhere outside
• Make it look as though your house is occupied, e.g. by installing timers which switch lights on and off automatically
• If you are away for extended periods, cancel the delivery of milk and newspapers and ask a friend to pop in once a week to check on your home

Jeff Morris from Age Concern Insurance Servicessays: ?Our research shows that nearly half of Brits keep their valuables inunsafe hiding places. We are encouraging people to be more cautious when hidingpossessions in their homes, especially those with sentimental value that can?tbe easily replaced.  By keeping valuablesin a locked, safe place belongings will be kept secure.

?We would also advise people to check their homeinsurance policies and specify any items over ?2000 ? this will provide peaceof mind that their possessions are insured to the correct value, in case the worsthappens.

Age Concern Insurance Services (ACIS) offers oneof the few home insurance policiesto allow a very low minimum sum insured, allowing older people with fewerpossessions to pay only for the cover they need.   ACIS also offers the flexibility to spreadthe cost of insurance by paying ininstalments at no extra cost. For more information, visit . 

For a free, no-obligation quotation or immediatecover call 0845 606 5075^. Calls are charged at a local call rate.  Lines are open Monday to Friday 8am ? 8pm, Saturday 9am ? 5pm.     Or you can visit your local Age Concern*****.

Profits generated by Age Concern InsuranceServices go directly to the Age Concern charity, raising additional funds forinvaluable support services such as day centres, home visits and transportationas well as helping the charity campaign for the well-being and rights of olderpeople.

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For further informationplease contact Elly Kestenbaum, Imogen Davies or Jess Baker at Trimedia on 020 7025 7500 or email

NOTES TO EDITORS

^ If you call the 0845 number you will be dealing with Fortis InsuranceLimited, which provides and manages Age Concern Home Insurance

*Research carried out by Age Concern Insurance Services.  Sample size: 100  The survey was carried out online bySurveyMonkey between the dates of 26^th and 3^rd July . 

***Premiums vary according to individualcircumstances: all applications are subject to underwriting.  Written quotations available on request

**Statistics from ?Crime in England and Wales 2006/07? report,issued by the British Crime Survey

****Tips sourced from the Metropolitan Police website

***** Not all Age Concerns offer all Age Concern products. Please checkby telephoning your local office, before arranging a visit. Trading AgeConcerns are Appointed Representatives of Age Concern Enterprises Limited (ACEnt)which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority forinsurance mediation (311438).  ACEnt isregistered in Englandand Wales No. 3156159. Registered Office: Astral House, 1268 London Road, SW16 4ER. Age ConcernInsurance Services is a trading name of ACEnt, which is a trading company ofAge Concern Englandand gives any profits to that registered charity

ABOUT Age Concern Home Insurance

Age Concern Insurance Services (ACIS) offers from under ?4 per month and is one of the few insurance policieswhich offers a very low minimum sum insured, thereby allowing older people withfewer possessions to pay only for the cover they need.  Importantly, thepolicy is index-linked so that the level of cover rises with inflation and thefull replacement value of goods will be made available.

Age Concern Home Insurance provides:

• Contents cover against perils such as fire, flooding and theft that include the option of building insurance. Policies are indexed linked so that sums insured are increased in line with inflation. 
• Low minimum contents sums insured from ?7,500 (the sum insured must represent the full replacement cost as new of all contents).
• A low ?25 excess (for most claims).
• A range of additional benefits are automatically included e.g. costs of alternative accommodation, accidental damage to mirrors and glass, spoilage of frozen food and replacement of external locks if keys are lost or stolen.
• A 24 hour domestic emergency helpline providing advice on where to find qualified and authorised repairers.
• Personalised service, tailored to older peoples needs and treating customers as individuals
• A free legal helpline for independent and confidential advice on any legal problem.
• Option to spread payments over 12 months at no extra cost.  Written quotations available on request.
• No hidden extra fees.

AGE CONCERN INSURANCE SERVICES (ACIS)

Age Concern Insurance Services (ACIS) was created in 1983 tooffer better value insurance for older people. General insurance was an area inwhich over-50s had been ill served for a long time. Starting as a localservice, it has grown to be one of the UK?s leading brands regardinggeneral insurance for older people.

Today ACIS plays a dual role. It endeavours tooffer some of the best value policies available while ensuring that theseproducts are designed to meet thespecific needs of older customers.  All profits generated by Age Concern from selling products and services godirectly to support Age Concern?scharitable activities.

ACIS? product has developed through demand toinclude home, contents, travel, motor, and

Policies can be bought either direct by phone, or through any of the 160participating local Age Concerngroups and organisations. In an age which is becoming more technology driven, Age Concern is invaluable in offering older people apersonal service at a local level with which many feel most comfortable.

AGE CONCERN & WHY IT TRADES:

At a local level, Age Concern offers a range of services for older people, such asday centres, luncheon clubs, and advice and information services.

At a national level, Age Concern campaigns with and for older people: developingpolicy; influencing Government; training care professionals; supporting local Age Concern bodies, financially and professionally.

To fund this work, Age Concern needs a constant flow of independent income. It seeksto achieve this through a balance of traditional fund raising and tradingactivities.

Age Concern?s tradingactivities enable it to meet the needs of older people, through productsspecifically designed to meet theseneeds; quality products such as General Insurance and Energy Services.

Age Concern Enterprises Ltdis authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority for generalinsurance (311438) Age ConcernEnterprises Ltd is registered in England and Wales No. 3156159. RegisteredOffice: Astral House, 1268 London Road, SW16 4ER Age Concern Enterprises Ltd is a trading company of Age Concern England and gives any profits tothat registered charity.