Secure Your Family Heirlooms: Protect Priceless Antiques With Home Security Systems
By William Hynes
Stolen Antiques are Hot Commodity Amongst Thieves

Antique collecting is a favorite hobby and antiques are also a big business. However, stolen antiques are even a bigger business. Shady thieves steal antiques out of homes and then turn around and sell them on the black market or at auction houses.


Antiques can range from the thousands to the million dollar range. If you store family heirlooms and antiques inside your home, it’s time to think about investing in systems.

Do you keep your grandmother’s wedding ring locked away in a home safe or does it sit inside your jewelry box? Millions of dollars worth of antiques are reported stolen each year from private homes. Unlike TVs and digital cameras, family heirlooms and antiques cannot be replaced.

Take Safety Pre-Cautions Today: Inventory Your Antique Collections

If you are going to showcase expensive antiques and priceless family heirlooms inside your home, you need to take a few necessary pre-cautions:

• Make an appointment with an official antiques appraiser. Update your appraisals every two to three years. Make

sure everything is appraised including antiques, jewelry, and collectables.

• Save your receipts. These receipts verify how much you paid for each antique (if you bought antiques over the years).

• Videotape and/or photograph your entire antiques collection. If you videotape your collection, make sure you describe on video each antique in great detail, how much each pieces costs and when you bought it or who gave you the piece (if it was a gift).

• Inventory all antique pieces with detailed descriptions of each item including: type, title, date/period, materials (type of wood, etc.), measurements, any special inscriptions, and distinguishing characteristics. Keep the inventory list in a safe location (a safety deposit box at a local bank or a hidden fire-proof home safe).

Verify the credentials of antique appraisers, and make sure you are dealing with reputable antique appraisers. Don’t make it a habit of talking to strangers about how many antiques and family heirlooms you have stored at your house. Burglars are very sneaky and can find out a lot of information just by talking to antique collectors.