Theft is on the rise at Christmas, presents are being stolen from under trees, opportunistic thieves are looking at ways to get items on their Christmas gift lists for free – and musical instruments are no exception.

Many would think it a shame to break the tradition of having gifts under the tree for fear of theft. All the more important to increase security at Christmas, to minimise the chance of having your instrument stolen.

If an instrument has just been bought as a gift, it is a good idea to make certain it is adequately insured. A more comprehensive specialist policy will cover a much wider range of mishaps than an extension to a typical household policy, for which you would probably have to pay an additional claims excess.

Top tips for protecting your instrument over the festive period include:

• if you are buying an instrument as a gift for someone, make sure you get it is insured from the outset;
• always keep the instrument in a secure lockable case, stored in a safe location in your house and out of plain view when not in use;
• if you are playing in any Christmas concerts, ensure the instrument is either with you at all times, or secured somewhere safe so that there are no opportunities for thieves (though some specialist policies will cover theft from an unlocked room);
• when obtaining quotes from insurance companies, check whether cover automatically increases at no extra cost during the Christmas holidays, as many insurers will be aware of the rise in instrument theft at this time of year;
• most instruments have a serial number. Insurers would find it helpful to have a record of this, as it will increase the chances of identification and recovery should it be stolen, and will also assist the police in returning a instrument to its rightful owner.

Allianz Musical Insurance circulates details of higher value stolen instruments to dealers and auction houses, posts information about these instruments on its website, and has a claims investigation team of Super Sleuths who have contacts all over the world to assist in the search for policyholders’ missing instruments.

John Feaver, marketing controller for Allianz Musical Insurance, says: ‘Faced with the loss of an instrument, a replacement sometimes isn’t good enough. Many musicians – for reasons sentimental or otherwise – want the original instrument returned. Our Super Sleuth team pursue every lead, working closely with dealers and the police, whom we notify with details, so recovery can often be made swiftly.

‘In addition to this we are now providing Smartwater – a forensic security coding product – to all new and renewing policyholders of Allianz Musical Insurance. This product is used by police forces across the UK as part of a concerted strategy to deter crime.’

Christmas is an extremely busy time of year for everyone, and remembering to insure new instruments is not a priority for most people. If you don’t get around to organising insurance or extending cover for having the instrument in the car or at concerts, or both, and it doesn’t fall into the wrong hands during the holiday period, it is extra important to secure insurance permanently in the New Year.

Naturally, the most important thing to remember during the festive holiday is to enjoy yourself! Most Christmas celebrations do pass without incident!...

Summer Nedimovic is media relations co-ordinator in the Corporate Communications section of Allianz Musical Insurance, an ISM Corporate Member.

Allianz Musical Instruments Department can be contacted at 6 Vale Avenue, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 1EH, tel: 0844 391 4037, fax: 0844 391 4073, email: musicalinsurance@allianz.co.uk, web: www.musical-insurance.co.uk.

 

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