4 Ways To Protect Your Personal Belongings Whilst On The Road

Date published: 29th March 2019, updated 13th June 2024

These days we leave the house with so many valuable possessions, including laptop, smartphone, tablet, smartwatch, jewellery, bicycle, sunglasses, photographic equipment, musical instruments and handbags, just to name a few.

Whether commuting to work, travelling for pleasure, or simply running errands, there is always a risk of losing or damaging these items. Protecting your possessions and valuable belongings has never been more crucial. Here a few handy tips to make sure you are protected:

1. Keep records – you never know when they will come in handy

• Take a photo of your belongings and receipts at time of purchase just in case you need to lodge a police report or make an insurance claim one day. Use apps to maintain a digital inventory of your possessions.
• When you head off travelling take a photo of all of your items before you pack them in your bag and once inside your bag – this is a quick and easy way to make sure you return home with what you left with.

Keeping detailed records of your possessions is crucial for insurance claims and police reports in case of theft or loss. Documenting your belongings can also help you keep track of what you own.

2. Invest in the right gear

It is always worthwhile investing in the right gear to help safeguard your belongings whilst on the road. Here are a few ideas:

• Backpacks that lock, are made from slash-proof material, have sturdy zippers and have RFID protection (stops thieves electronically stealing money through your bag or wallet)
• Use hotel safes
• Wear a money belt whilst travelling

3. Do backups and implement safeguards

Other than the loss of your physical belongings, losing data stored on them can be even more heartbreaking. Here are some ways to protect your precious data:

• Where possible, implement two-factor authentication on your accounts, like your email, bank account, social profiles, etc. That way, if someone steals your password, they can’t access your data.
• Do regular backups and use apps which do automatic backups e.g. Google Photos will automatically backup your photos from your smartphone.
• Put strong passcodes and lock codes on every device you leave the house with
• Make digital and physical copies of all of your important documents like credit cards passport, driver’s licence. This will make it much easier to cancel and replace them.

4. Get insured

One of the most effective ways to protect your valuables is by getting them insured. Insurance provides financial protection against loss, theft, and accidental damage. 

Hot tip! One of the unknown perks of CHU Contents Insurance for Strata (Premier Cover) is that you are automatically covered for the loss and accidental damage of your belongings not only at home but also in transit, travelling within Australia and worldwide (for up to 90 days)*. 

Here are a few scenarios where things can and do go wrong:

• Your smartphone is stolen from your pocket at a music festival
• You leave your laptop on the train travelling home from work
• The padlock securing your bike is broken and the bike stolen
• You drop your DSLR camera whilst travelling
• You leave your expensive sunnies in a restaurant whilst travelling and when you return they are gone

Getting insurance can provide you with financial protection and peace of mind in these unfortunate situations, ensuring that you're covered when things go wrong.

When you chose CHU Contents Insurance (Premier Cover) for your personal belongings you will get:

• Automatic coverage for loss and accidental damage of belongings.
• Protection for items both at home and while travelling.
• Cover for various events such as theft at a music festival, losing a laptop on the train, or damaging a camera while on vacation.

Get Portable Contents Insurance

Protecting your valuables and possessions is essential in today's world, whether you're at home or on the go. From securing comprehensive insurance like CHU Contents Insurance for Strata to keeping detailed records of your belongings, there are various strategies to safeguard your items. Investing in secure gear, such as anti-theft backpacks and GPS trackers, can prevent theft, while implementing digital safeguards like two-factor authentication and regular backups can protect your data. By taking these precautions, you can minimise the risk of loss and enjoy greater peace of mind. Reach out to our expert team today to have a chat about securing your portable items. 

*NB Terms and conditions apply, including different product levels and an excess payable, so make sure you read the PDS for full conditions.