Valuable Advice on Securing Antiques & Works of Art

If you are lucky enough to be the owner of valuable articles such as antiques or collectables, or artworks such as prints or paintings, then you will no doubt harbour great sentiment over them: precisely why taking serious steps to secure them should be a major priority. In this post we discuss some of the best methods of keeping your valuable items safe and protected.

According to the Metropolitan Police, the top five most high risk arts and antiques items are medals; prints and paintings; antiques made of ivory and rhino horn; jewellery and items made of precious metals; and gems and pottery and small items of value that are easily removed.

Security Measures

The Metropolitan Police advises owners of such items to ensure their homes have adequate security as a protective measure. From our point of view, we would advise:

An insurance graded safe: Smaller items including jewellery should be secured in a safe when you are away from the property. You may even find your insurance cover demands it.

CCTV: As well as a deterrent, CCTV will provide valuable footage that can assist in tracking down burglars.

Remote monitoring: A system that kicks into action alerting you via your smartphone or tablet to any movement on your premises whilst you are out or away will allow you to call assistance or instigate a recording via installed cameras.

Intruder alarm: You may well find that if you own items of particular value, your insurers will demand you have an intruder alarm fitted. There are numerous options and you should be clear on the demands placed by your insurer so that you do not find yourself in breach of any warranty.

Insurance

Standard contents cover is definitely not going to be sufficient if you own items of considerable value, so you will need to seek out a specialist policy, or at very least speak to your insurance provider or broker about naming individual items on your policy.

Inventory

If you have numerous items that fall under the banner of valuables, collectables and arts and antiques then it is advisable to create an inventory. List all your items together with detailed descriptions and clear, close-up photographs of each. Keep copies of any professional valuations with the inventory.

Aside from assisting in repatriating any items that are taken, an inventory will also act as proof to the police and your insurers that you had the item in your possession at the time of any offence or incident such as flood or fire. Ideally the inventory should be stored offsite, or saved in a cloud directory so that it can be accessed in the event of your premises becoming inaccessible.

Register your Items

There are numerous registers that allow you to record your items. The London based Art Loss Register is one of them. It allows you to register your valuable possessions and create a permanent record which can be presented to the police and your insurers should there be a loss, theft or incident where damage occurs. Antique and art dealers keep a check on such registers so they can be sure not to buy or sell property that has been reported stolen.

Mark Items – With Care

Property marking is one of the most advised methods of security right across the board. However, when it comes to security marketing antiques or artworks, it is essential to take advice from an expert as to the most appropriate method for a particular type of object.

For tailored advice on protecting your valued collector’s items, please get in touch. The experts at Barry Bros Security are on hand with the specialist know how you need for complete peace of mind.