Homeowners Can Reduce Risks Of Holiday Theft, Fire Claims

Insurance companies are warning Georgia and South Carolina residents to stay alert during the holidays to avoid costly property claims that average $1,500 for thefts of missing jewelry and $18,000 for electrical hazards associated with outdoor decorations.Fire claims increase by 16.5 percent and reports of stolen property jump by 8 percent among homeowners and renters in Georgia from December through January, according to data from Allstate Insurance. In South Carolina fire claims increase by 6 percent and thefts rise by 12.5 percent, the company’s records show.