Here is what you can do right now to avoid theft of your vehicle as well as preventing theft to your personal property inside.

1. Lock your doors
2. Roll up the windows
3. Hide personal property that is in plain view. Stash them under the seat if you have to
4. Never leave spare keys inside the car
5. Use anti theft devices such as the “steering wheel club,” wheel locks, or other types of anti theft devices.
6. Park in well lit areas
7. Invest in on board GPS systems like “LoJack” and other Geo devices in case your car does get stolen, it’s location can be traced right away
8. Finally, just use common sense where you park your car. Park where there is other cars. Parking in a bad neighborhood or in the dark is just asking for trouble

Quite often if we just think things through, without stressing, and take percautions to make sure you secured your car is the best things to do.

Have a safe summer.

If you need a quote on auto insurance call Doug Seide Insurance at 480-443-1952.

One of the most important things you can do is to go over all the maintenance details of your vehicle. Here are some things to watch for:

1. Check tire pressure and make sure air is filled to factory specs
2. Make sure all tire valves have caps on them
3. Have your wheels properly aligned and balanced
4. Check and make sure you had your oil checked per schedule
5. Get a “spot check” on all rubber belts and hoses
6. Get a first aid kit to keep on board
7. Carry jumper cables and emergency reflectors or flares
8. Check all important fluid levels such as windshield, transmission, etc.
9. Have a flashlight handy

You get the picture, planning a vaction is one thing, and more importantly making a checklist on your vehicle maintenance is going to ensure your vacation is a pleasant and unforgettable one!

All the activities or situations mentioned above is exposing all of us to unique risks. We could get a sports related injury playing volleyball at the park; there could be a near drowning in our backyard pool. We could trip and fall while attending our favorite arts and crafts festival. We might end up in a fender-bender with another car on the streets while starting out on our vacation.

Because of these additional risks we are putting ourselves into during the summer months, it is important to make a checklist of our important contact imformation such as our insurance agent, our AAA emergency card in case of road services we may need, medical bracelets or information to alert medical personnel that will need to know this information if we get hurt, a good contact of a close relative or friend in case of emergency. Also, when traveling, think of emergency first aid kits and maps of the travel area you will be using.

Thinking ahead to have valuable information available will greatly give you peace of mind that you are ready for anything, especially during  the summer months. We are more mobile during this season. Care must be taken when going anywhere or planning travel trips.

Lastly, make sure you are current on all insurance premiums! You don’t want to be without insurance at a time when you “forgot” or “put off” paying your premium!!

Have a safe and enjoyable summer!

For any question on insurance coverage, whether it is homeowners, auto and commercial, call Doug Seide at 480-443-1952.

1. Make sure you lock all doors and windows and close blinds to prevent people from looking inside your house. You want to hide view to your Christmas presents.
2. When disposing of holiday wraps and packaging, destroy all signs of product labels such as “expensive” TVs. You don’t want to “advertise” to the neigborhood of high dollar purchases.
3. Don’t forget to arm your security system, without fail when leaving the house even for a moment.
4. When any and all delivery people deliver a parcel, you have the right to ask for identification, this is a must! It could be a burglar.
5. If you plan to travel during the holiday season, make sure you have a trusted neighbor take in your newspaper deliveries and take in your daily mail. Also move the car occasionally if your car is parked outside the home.

You can never be too careful when protecting your home from burglary. Remember to be aware of your surroundings and watch for suspicious people that appear to be “out of place” in your neighborhood. They could be “staking out” your street. Be liberal with reporting suspicious activity to the police.

If you should have a burglar incident, explain all the precautions above to your insurance adjuster that you took to prevent theft and break in of your home. They will look more favorably on your claim that you took every effort to prevent an incident.

We wish you and your family a safe and fun holiday season.

For a quick, no obligation quote on your auto and homeowners insurance needs, call Doug Seide at 480-443-1952.

If you go boating and swimming, remember to stay aware of your surroundings. It is so easy to get caught up in having fun while being distracted on a boat and possibly colliding with another boat or object. When swimming, always be aware of other swimmers and call for help immediately if you see anyone in trouble in the water. Knowing CPR is a Godsend if you happen to be at the right place at the right time.

Remember to drive safely when on the roads. There are a lot of crazy drivers out there! Keep your cell phone handy in case of emergencies. If you go camping, remember to always double and triple check your campfires when leaving…..make sure they are out, cold!

If you are staying at home for the holidays and have a pool, well you know the drill…..”watch your kids around water!”

We wish you and all your families a wonderful and safe holiday weekend.