Homeowners advised to upgrade security as figures reveal average insurance claims in Kildare are €3K

Kildare householders are being warned to take extra precautions when they leave home to go on holidays this summer, after it was revealed that homeowners put in burglary claims averaging €3,000 last year.

The rise of burglary in not just Kildare, but the country as a whole, has been well documented over the past year or so, and insurance premiums for homes are continuing to rise as insurance companies drive up their prices in response to the crisis.

Kildare ranked somewhere around the middle when it came to the highest average claim by homeowners, as residents in the county put in requests of an average of €2,921 in 2015. While it is substantially more than the lowest average number in the country, Wexford with €6,624, it is much higher than the €650 average in Mayo.

Somewhat surprisingly, Dublin came in with the ninth highest average at €3,467.

The figures come courtesy of AA Home Insurance, and spokesperson Conor Faughnan appealed to people to get a proper security system and to make sure they have home insurance.

"It's really important that you have adequate home insurance cover in place - something many people still do not have," he said.

"I don't like giving people advice that costs money, but a monitored alarm system is worthwhile."

"It is also reassuring to know that if anything does happen at home, you will know about it while on your holidays.' Tips the insurance company gave included suggesting householders check their home insurance policy to make sure valuables such as jewellery or other expensive items were covered in the event of a burglary," concluded Faughnan.