Aviva data show theft season has begun

Summer is here, bringing with it warm weather, time away from home and a spike in residential burglaries.

Insurance claims data from Aviva Canada Inc. show the frequency of thefts on the home front during June, July and August are 13%, 22% and 32% higher, respectively, than in February, when theft is least likely to occur.

The favourite day of the week for thieves is Friday, when break-ins are 25% higher than on Sunday. 

“The longer residents spend away from their homes without taking the proper precautions, the greater chance that thieves will strike,” Wayne Ross, vice president of national property claims for Aviva Canada, says in a press release.

The good news is that residential theft claims dropped almost 50% between 2003 and 2011, Aviva data show. The bad news is that the value of property being stolen — including easy-to-grab electronic devices — is on the rise, increasing 51% over the same period (from $4,574 to $6,912).

An Aviva-led customer survey indicates some Canadians take precautions against theft, but only 33% of those polled have a security system.