Theft

Theft is an optional coverage that is not automatically included in a fire insurance policy and protects your household contents against theft and vandalism. In concrete terms, this means that when taking out fire insurance, you must explicitly state that you want this coverage and pay an additional premium for it. Unfortunately, thousands of thefts occur in our country every year, making this coverage worthwhile to consider.

Here is an overview of covered cases of damage:

• Burglary (e.g., a forced door or window)
• Climbing (e.g., using a ladder to enter through an upstairs window)
• Use of false keys
• Use of stolen or lost keys
• Clandestine intrusion (e.g., someone posing as an energy company employee coming to read the meter)
• Intrusion with the complicity of someone authorized to enter, provided the facts are legally established. Insurers generally exclude theft committed with the complicity of family members (relatives, spouses) of the insured person(s) or household staff.
• Theft committed with violence or where the insured person was threatened.

The theft insurance compensates you financially for the loss you suffer when your belongings, home, furniture, etc. are stolen, destroyed, or damaged as a result of vandalism, theft, or attempted theft. You are reimbursed for the actual value, which is the replacement value minus depreciation.

Unless otherwise stated in the general terms and conditions, the following are not covered: the simple disappearance of objects, the theft of motor vehicles or trailers from a garage, and the theft of items outside your home (except sometimes garden furniture).