Husband and brother disagree re break in

middlewife

Trying to get some perspective on tricky situation.

Very elderly MIL has been in hospital since last Wednesday. Quite poorly but will probably recover.

Hubby and brother ( both live 1 - 2 hours drive away) went to her house to check post, empty fridge etc on Sunday morning.

Brother discovered a rear window had been jemmied and was wide open with muddy footprints on carpet and a few plants tipped up. Nothing else taken or damaged, including a laptop and tablet. Her house is in a poor state of repair, so assume they scarpered pretty quickly.

They disagreed on what to do next. Hubby overruled BIL and insisted on reporting to police to obtain crime number which he did online. BIL refused to call insurers and repaired the window fitting.

So far, MIL hasn't been told and BIL doesn't want her told ( although I think this might be the push at 95 she needs to go into residential care.) However, police want to interview her so she is going to find out at some point. They also informed both neighbours.

My concern is that having discovered the property is empty, the thieves may return and cause more damage which the insurers will then refuse to cover when they realise there has been more than one break in.

Is there any legal requirement to report to insurers? Any advice welcome

born_again

Legal, I would say not.

But you (or mother) is bound by their T/C on reporting. So someone needs to read T/C on the policy.

You may want to find out how long she might be in hospital as well, as again the house being empty would be reportable after a certain period.

MyRealNameToo

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6661893/husband-and-brother-disagree-re-break-in

Ideally, read the policy book.

Generally at this point of time no, if you dont intend to claim for any damages. When the policy is due for renewal you will be required to inform them of any losses irrespective of if you claimed or not. Some policies however do require notification at the earliest opportunity. Unless anyone has a lasting power of attorney or is named on the policy then no one will be able to inform them until the MiL is fit enough to do so herself so its likely a moot point right now.

middlewife

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81943316#Comment_81943316

Hubby and B I L do have POA, but she is a very difficult lady and they're both a bit terrified of her! I keep my distance;)

GrubbyGirl_2

Can I suggest that while the house is empty they get some timers and have the lights come on when it's dark - that may reduce the chance of another break in if they think the property is occupied

middlewife

Rather ironically, BIL is a lighting designer and has hundreds of lights! I think they assumed she'd be coming home quickly, but not so sure now...

MyRealNameToo

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81943445#Comment_81943445

Whereas some say that lights coming on at the same time every day is a sure sign that the property is empty but the owners are trying to make it look otherwise so more likely having something work taking.

sheramber

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81944033#Comment_81944033

My timers have a random setting so the time varies each day.

MyRealNameToo

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81944253#Comment_81944253

And if you get smart ones you can have much more complex patterns or set them to come on relative to sun set/rise etc as well as periodically override one or two of them remotely as to have no pattern at all. Assumed they were talking the traditional mechanical ones that would make the light come on at 6pm sharp and off at 10pm sharp every single day (or whatever time you set)

user1977

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81944033#Comment_81944033

I doubt the average burglar is staking out a property for days at a time and taking notes.

MyRealNameToo

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81944463#Comment_81944463

I've no idea, never met one in person or had a chance to poll a series of them. It was the police's comment when the family home was broken into and it was suggested using a timer, they said it's arguably worse than no lights.