Tips for Preventing Theft as a Renter

This guide is part of our series on theft and tenant insurance.

Theft isn't always something people think about when renting – but it can have a big impact if you do find yourself a victim of it. The good news is that a few smart habits and precautions can make your home and belongings a less appealing target. From securing your space, to knowing how to react after an incident, here are some handy ways for renters to keep their personal belongings safer. 

1. Secure doors and windows 

Entry points are usually the first thing worth paying attention to, as they’re a direct route into your home. You can take preventative measures by doing things like: 

• Checking that door and window locks are in good working order, and raising any issues with a landlord if something feels loose or unreliable.

• Making a habit of locking up every time you leave your home, even for short absences. Opportunistic theft can happen during brief windows as well as longer ones.

• Considering additional measures like a door reinforcement plate or a window security bar where allowed by the lease, particularly for ground-floor units. Just make sure to check with a landlord or property manager first. 

• Being mindful of sliding doors and windows in particular, since these can sometimes be easier to force open than standard hinged doors.

2. Keep belongings and key information hidden

Sometimes taking simple actions like moving high-value items out of sight, or keeping details about your home off social media, can also go a long way. 

• Hide electronics. Keep valuables like electronics or bags away from direct view through windows, particularly ground-floor or street-facing ones.

• Keep keys out of sight. Try to avoid leaving spare keys in obvious spots like under a mat or in a nearby planter, since these are commonly checked locations by thieves. 

• Don’t post personal info online. Be cautious about how much is shared publicly about extended absences, since travel posts made in real-time can signal an empty unit.

• Schedule your mail. Keep package deliveries from piling up visibly at the door, either through a secure delivery option or by having them held for pickup.

3. Understand what security levels are like in your neighbourhood

Some factors sit outside an individual unit – physically and metaphorically – but are still handy to know about. Understanding security features and practical information for your building, as well as the surrounding area, can make it easier to plan out what kind of theft prevention steps might need to be taken. 

• Entry ways. Be aware of how secure common entry points are, such as building doors, parking garages, and mailrooms, since a bigger security gap in the building affects every unit.

• Lighting. Get a general sense of lighting in shared areas like hallways, entrances, and parking lots, since well-lit areas tend to be considered less appealing to opportunistic activity.

• First contact. Try to understand whether you should contact a property manager, building security, or a neighbour first, if something looks off in a common area.

• Visibility. Consider how visible your unit's entrance is from the street or a shared walkway, since more visible entry points are generally easier to monitor than hidden ones.

4. Documenting your belongings before anything happens

Keeping a record of belongings ahead of time doesn't prevent theft directly, but it tends to make dealing with the aftermath more manageable. Having a detailed log can make things smoother and quicker if you have tenant insurance and want to make a claim after a break-in. 

Getting financial support with the cost of replacing your items should fall under your contents coverage. Think about cataloging items.Take photos or a short video of rooms and belongings, ideally updated whenever something significant is added. Also think about keeping a simple list of higher-value items, along with receipts or serial numbers where available.

Something you might not have considered is keeping the list online. Just be sure to store this documentation somewhere other than just on a device that could be affected by the same incident, such as cloud storage or in an email. This kind of item log is often useful if a tenant insurance claim ever needs to be filed, since it helps establish what was affected. So having it immediately accessible is usually helpful. 

What to do if you do become the victim of theft 

• Let the police know. Avoid entering the unit if it looks like someone could still be inside, and contact authorities from a safe location instead. Report the incident to the relevant authorities as soon as it's safe to do so, since this documentation often matters for what follows.

• Document what you see. Take photos of the scene before anything is moved or cleaned up, which can help when documenting what happened. You’ll ideally want the photos to represent exactly how you found your home after the break-in. 

• Let the landlord know. Contact a landlord or property manager, particularly if there's damage to the unit itself, such as a broken door or window, in addition to items that were taken.

• Talk to your insurance provider. Reach out to your tenant insurance provider or insurance broker to report the situation, since this is generally the point where a claim connected to stolen belongings would begin.

The threat of theft is one factor which can make tenant insurance a valuable option for renters. While a tenant insurance policy itself can’t prevent your items from being stolen, it can help financially support you after the fact. A policy can help you afford the replacement cost of stolen items, pay to fix damage caused by the break-in, and can sometimes even cover you if your belongings are stolen away from your premises. 

The information provided on this page is intended for general educational purposes only and does not constitute insurance advice, a recommendation, or an offer to sell insurance. Every individual's insurance needs are unique and depend on personal circumstances. We encourage you to consult with an independent licensed insurance broker in your province who can assess your specific situation and recommend appropriate coverage.