BTA property insurance claims for theft risk compensation grew by 31.8%
BTA property insurance claims for theft risk compensation grew by 31.8%
During the first six months of this year, the amount of property insurance claims for theft risk claimed from BTA Baltic Insurance Company (hereinafter - BTA) has increased by one third. According to BTA data, BTA this year has already paid 15.4 thousand euros in indemnities, an increase of 5.2 thousand euros compared to the same period last year.The number of claims made has also increased. Where customers addressed the insurer with 44 claims last year, this number has increased by 31.8% to 58 this year.
In most cases, insurance claims are for burglary of property, while locks, doors and windows are damaged along with theft of property. The burglars have taken lots of different things - not only electrical appliances (TVs, computers, music centres), but also bank cards, jewellery, tools and bicycles. Also, household items such as electric kettles, philately albums, fuel cans, vacuum cleaners and others are not ignored. Thieves have also stolen from owners by taking valuable items from garages, cellars and barns.
The largest number of cases is still registered in Riga – both in terms of the number of robberies and losses caused by third-parties. Such cases are also registered in the farther regions – both in the cities of Ventspils and Daugavpils, and in Aglona, Viļāni and other regions. BTA explains that individuals’ need for property insurance is increasingly no longer perceived as an additional burden on their budget but is understood as a self-evident need. Without insuring your property and suffering from the harm done by thieves, it can cost you more and be more painful.
"People are increasingly aware that their property must be insured. Whether it's Riga, which has a higher number of thefts, or regions. It's a mistake to think that in quieter rural areas I can live calmly and peacefully. This is evidenced by general statistics and the number of cases registered by BTA. Property insurance, like any other kind of insurance, is like a guarantee for the future if something happens to the person himself or his property. Firstly, there is a sense of security that you will not be left without support after the accident, "says Kārlis Liepiņš, Director of BTA Insurance Claims Handling Department.
The director of BTA Insurance Claims Handling Department acknowledges that during the last years the positive aspect is that people's thinking also has changed and the careless attitude towards the importance of insurance in general is diminished. "People understand that it's not wise to live with the thought - nothing like that will happen to me. It is better to protect yourself and rely on the insurer in time rather than later, after an incident, in order to not regretfully bite your fingers and solve the situation by yourself and by your own means. "
About BTA
BTA Baltic Insurance Company is one of the leading insurance companies in the Baltics, offering the broadest range of non-life insurance services in Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia. BTA employs more than 1 000 employees in the Baltics. The largest shareholder of BTA is Vienna Insurance Group AG with 200 years of experience in the insurance industry. More than 50 companies in 25 countries constitute the group, which employs 25,000 employees. Vienna Insurance Group AG is a clear leader in its core markets in Europe maintaining high rating of financial stability – Standard & Poor’s A+ (stable outlook), with a listing on the Vienna and the Prague Stock Exchange.
Additional information:
Elīna Rasmane
Marketing and Public Relations Department Director
BTA Baltic Insurance Company AAS
e-mail: elina.rasmane@bta.lv