5+ years writing insurance and personal finance topics
Auto, home, health, and life insurance expertise
Elizabeth has extensive insurance industry experience, having written for Insureon, Rate Retriever, and Insurify. She’s also finance and insurance editor for Car and Driver.
Sara Getman is an Associate Editor at Insurify and has been with the company since 2022. Prior to joining Insurify, Sara completed her undergraduate degree in English Literature at Simmons University in Boston. At Simmons, she was the Editor-in-Chief for Sidelines Magazine (a literary and art publication), and wrote creative non-fiction.
Outside of work, Sara is an avid reader, and loves rock climbing, yoga, and crocheting.
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For homeowners, the potential for theft can be a scary reality. In 2019, people reported more than 1.1 million break-ins in the U.S., according to data from the FBI.[1] While you can add safety devices to your home, theft can happen anytime and anywhere, even in the safest neighborhoods.
If you’re wondering if homeowners insurance covers theft, the answer is yes — home insurance policies cover theft and any resulting property damage.
Here’s how your home insurance protects you and what to do if someone breaks into your home.
When home insurance covers theft
Theft is a common covered peril in standard home insurance policies. Your insurance will cover theft under two sections of your policy. Personal property insurance covers stolen personal items, like electronics and furniture. Dwelling insurance and other structures insurance cover damage that a burglar causes when breaking into your home, like a shattered window.[2]
Here are some examples of when home insurance will cover theft.
Theft from your home
Homeowners insurance covers personal items stolen from your home. For example, if someone breaks in while you’re at work and steals your TV, the personal property portion of your policy covers it.
Theft from your property
Home insurance doesn’t just cover theft from your living space. It also covers theft from detached structures and other places on your property. Your personal property insurance pays for a replacement if a burglar steals bikes from your yard or garage.
Theft when you’re on vacation
Home insurance covers theft that occurs while you’re traveling away from home or on vacation. That means if someone unlawfully enters your hotel room and steals your emergency cash reserve, your personal property insurance will reimburse you.
Car theft
Standard home insurance policies also cover items that get stolen from your car. If a thief smashes the passenger window and steals something inside, your home insurance policy will pay to replace the items. But your home insurance only covers the stolen items. Your comprehensive car insurance policy covers the cost of repairing the window.
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When home insurance doesn’t cover theft
Home insurance provides fairly comprehensive coverage for theft. But it doesn’t cover certain types of theft. Here are a few situations where home insurance doesn’t cover theft:[3]
Your car gets stolen
Homeowners insurance doesn’t cover stolen cars. If your vehicle gets stolen, your car insurance policy covers it, but only if you have comprehensive insurance. A minimum-coverage policy with liability-only insurance won’t cover theft.
The home is unoccupied
Most home insurance policies have an exclusion for items that get stolen from an unoccupied property. For example, if your home has been vacant for six months and someone breaks in, your home insurance company probably won’t cover stolen items or property damage.
You didn’t file a police report
If someone breaks into your home, you should file a police report right away, even if the stolen items weren’t valuable. Without a police report, your home insurance company might not approve your claim.
What amount does home insurance cover for stolen items?
Home insurance policies have a coverage limit, representing the maximum amount of money you can receive for a covered claim. The amount your policy will pay for stolen items or damage from a break-in depends on your coverage limits and the type of policy you have.
Actual cash value
An actual cash value policy means that your insurance compensates you for belongings based on their depreciated value. Imagine a burglar breaks in and steals a designer purse that cost $3,000 when you purchased it five years ago. Since then, the purse has depreciated in value due to factors like age and wear and tear. When you file a claim, your insurance policy might only pay $1,500 for the purse because the item has lost value.
Replacement cost value
A replacement cost policy means that your insurance covers your personal items at their original value without subtracting depreciation. Let’s use the example from above: If your $3,000 purse was stolen and you had a replacement cost policy, you’d receive $3,000 to replace it (minus your deductible). With a replacement cost policy, you’re able to replace the stolen item with a new one of a similar make and quality.
This type of coverage usually requires you to add a personal property replacement cost endorsement to your policy.
Do you need additional coverage for high-value items?
Homeowners insurance policies have a coverage limit for personal property. There’s also a sublimit for valuable items that’s typically much lower than the personal property coverage limit.
Most standard home insurance policies provide around $1,500 in coverage for stolen or damaged valuable items. If someone steals something that costs more than your policy limit, your insurer won’t compensate you for the full amount. If you keep valuable items in your home, like art or fine jewelry, it’s a good idea to purchase additional coverage for more financial protection.
The most common way to get extra coverage for valuables is to purchase a rider from your home insurance company. These riders, often called scheduled personal property riders, raise your policy limits for individual items. But these riders also have a coverage limit, which is usually around $5,000.[4]
Another option is to purchase a separate insurance policy for your most valuable items. For instance, if you have an extensive diamond jewelry collection, you could purchase a jewelry insurance policy that would likely provide higher coverage limits.
How to file a home insurance claim for theft
Here are the steps you should follow to file a home insurance claim for theft:
1. File a police report
If someone steals your personal items, you should contact the police, even if there’s no residual property damage. Notifying the police could help you get your stolen items back, but it’s also important when you file an insurance claim.
2. Contact your insurance company
Report the loss to your insurance company online or over the phone. You’ll need to provide paperwork, including a description of what happened and what items were stolen. If you have photos of the stolen items or receipts with proof of purchase, give those to your insurance company, too.
3. Make temporary repairs, if necessary
If the burglar caused any property damage during the break-in, take pictures and then make temporary repairs, like fixing a broken window. Make sure to keep receipts for any supplies you purchased, which your insurer should reimburse as part of the claim.
4. Stay in touch with the adjuster
After you submit the paperwork, your insurer will assign an adjuster to the claim to start investigating the incident. Keep in touch with the adjuster throughout the process so you can provide additional information or evidence if they need it. Once the claim is approved, you’ll receive your settlement.
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Ways to protect your home from theft
As a homeowner, you can take action to protect your home from break-ins and theft. Here are some preventative measures that can reduce the risk of a burglary:
Install a home security system. Installing a home security system can deter thieves and give you some peace of mind. Plus, many home insurance companies offer a discount to homeowners who have a security system.
Secure valuable items. Determined burglars often look for valuable items, like jewelry, watches, and electronics, that they can resell. If you keep high-value belongings in your home, keep them in a safe and inconspicuous location where a burglar might not immediately spot them.
Make it look like someone is home. Leaving lights or a radio on when you leave the house can make it seem like someone is home, which can keep burglars away.
Use motion sensor lights. Installing motion sensor lights around the perimeter of your home can deter burglars. And if you have security cameras, a motion sensor light can also help the police better identify a potential burglar.
Home insurance and theft FAQs
Theft can happen at any time, but it’s important to take preventative action to protect your property. Here’s some more information about how home insurance can protect your home and belongings against theft.
What part of your home insurance policy covers costs associated with the theft of belongings from your house?
The personal property portion (Coverage C) of your home insurance policy covers the theft of belongings from your house. It also covers items stolen from detached structures, like a garage or shed, and your vehicle. Coverages A and B can help with any damage from the burglary.
Does homeowners insurance cover stolen items while traveling?
Homeowners insurance covers your personal belongings that get stolen while traveling. Typically, your policy will cover theft that occurs anywhere in the world. But there’s usually a lower policy limit for theft of belongings away from home.
Does homeowners insurance cover a stolen laptop?
Yes, home insurance will cover stolen laptops. You can file a claim under your personal property coverage if the laptop gets stolen from your house, from your car, or while you’re traveling.
Does home insurance cover theft of items stolen from your yard or garden?
A standard homeowners insurance policy covers items that get stolen from your yard or garden. For example, your personal property insurance would cover stolen patio furniture, potted plants, shrubs, trees, firepits, and mailboxes.
III. "Do I need special coverage for jewelry and other valuables?."
Elizabeth Rivelli
Elizabeth Rivelli is a freelance writer covering insurance and personal finance. She has extensive knowledge of various insurance lines, including property and casualty, health, and life insurance. Her byline has been featured in dozens of publications, including Investopedia, Forbes, Bankrate, NextAdvisor, and Insurance.com.
Elizabeth has been a contributor at Insurify since October 2022.
Sara Getman is an Associate Editor at Insurify and has been with the company since 2022. Prior to joining Insurify, Sara completed her undergraduate degree in English Literature at Simmons University in Boston. At Simmons, she was the Editor-in-Chief for Sidelines Magazine (a literary and art publication), and wrote creative non-fiction.
Outside of work, Sara is an avid reader, and loves rock climbing, yoga, and crocheting.
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