HNW Consumers Worried About Home Robberies, Says NFU Mutual

One of the reasons the UK luxury watch bubble has burst is that wealthy people no longer feel safe wearing a Rolex in public places. But pro thieves are targeting homes now, looking for jewellery, cash, keys to vehicles and more. Here’s the word from NFU Mutual;

A new survey by high net worth insurer NFU Mutual has revealed that 61% of affluent and high net worth individuals have fallen victim to crime in the past five years, as over half admit to being more worried about security than five years ago. The alarming data suggests people across the UK are being preyed upon by criminals up and down the country and feel less secure in their homes than before.

The new survey, carried out by OnePoll on behalf of NFU Mutual, asked 1,000 people with incomes over £100,000 or liquid assets of over £500,000 about their safety and security at home, finding that 61% of respondents been the victims of crime – with many finding themselves repeatedly targeted. One third of respondents (32%) had fallen victim to cybercrime, while one fifth (20%) had been sold counterfeit goods and a startling 16% had suffered from violence or the threat of violence. In a similar vein, 14% had suffered criminal damage and 13% had seen people trespass on their property.

More than one in ten fell victim to burglary (11%) and theft from their person (12%), with 14% having their vehicle or items from their vehicle stolen.

Dawn Blazier, Head of High Net Worth Insurance at NFU Mutual, spoke about the data:

“Sadly, our new research paints a bleak picture of the level of criminality targeted at people up and down the country, and those at the receiving end clearly feel vulnerable. Our survey shows that over half of respondents are more worried about their security than they were five years ago.

“The most common forms of crime, cyber crime and selling counterfeit goods, are a reflection of the world we live in. With so much of our lives now lived on the internet and through smartphones, and online shopping being fully normalised, there are more opportunities than ever for criminals and it can be easy to fall victims. We know from talking to customers that people can often feel ashamed or embarrassed about falling victim to these types of crime, but criminals are becoming ever more sophisticated and so we’d urge everyone not to shy away from asking for help or a second opinion if they need it.

“More traditional crimes like theft, violence and criminal damage are also besieging relatively large proportions of survey respondents.

“While insurance may cover the cost of these crimes, it cannot stop the distress and fear that is caused from falling victim to theft, violence or anti-social crime. That’s why we’re sharing advice on some simple steps people can take to help thwart criminal activity, preventing crime and protect their family and property.

“Many will have these measures in place already, but it’s always worth looking over your home and digital security to ensure it remains fit for purpose, and if you are concerned, you can always talk to your insurer.

“Better security measures can result in lower premiums, so it’s definitely worth talking to your insurer.”