When you’re busy planning, packing, hiring movers and even saying goodbye to friends, it’s easy to overlook the risk of theft during a move.
Since moving day is usually hectic and distracting, it can create an opportunity for the wrong people to take advantage. Here are some simple tips to help you stay cautious and keep your belongings safe while moving.
Dealing with Lots of People on Moving Day
One big challenge during a move is keeping track of all the people coming in and out of your home. With movers, friends, family, your landlord or even service workers like the cable guy around, it’s easy to get distracted. In that confusion, a thief could blend in, pretend they’re supposed to be there and leave with something valuable without being noticed.
A smart way to handle this issue is to set aside one room in both your old and new home that only your family can use. Keep all your valuable things there and make sure the room can be locked. If you can, choose a room without windows and only allow trusted family members inside. This helps protect items like jewelry, money, family treasures and photos from being stolen.
What Usually Gets Stolen on Moving Day
It may surprise you, but prescription medicine and branded items—like perfumes—are the most common things stolen during a move. Thieves often go for toiletry bags since these items are small, easy to grab and can be quickly sold.
Don’t pack your important toiletries—especially the ones that are hard to replace—in your regular toiletry bag or box. Instead, put them in a small suitcase that stands out and keep it with you. This way, you’ll feel more relaxed knowing your medicine and valuable items are in a bag that’s safer and less tempting for thieves.
Protecting Your Important Papers
When moving, you’ll likely gather all your private and important documents to take with you on the big day. The last thing you’d want is for them to end up with the wrong person, since your personal information could be stolen and sold for money.
To keep these documents safe, always keep them with you during the move. This means items like bank statements, investment details, social security cards and birth certificates. You can also place them in your locked, secure room for extra protection.
Get Extra Help to Watch Your Belongings
It’s always smart to have more eyes on your stuff during a move. Choosing a reliable moving company can give you peace of mind since their team will help keep an eye on your belongings while everything is being moved.
Having friends and family there can also make a big difference. With more people keeping an eye on things, it’s easier to make sure every box goes onto the truck and comes off at your new home. This way, you don’t have to handle everything by yourself.
Theft on moving day isn’t very common but when it does happen, these are usually the main problems. To protect yourself, keep your identity, valuables and hard-to-replace items safe by following these simple tips before you move.
