With the evenings getting darker earlier coming into winter, historically home burglaries and break-ins rise in numbers.There are some simple steps we can all take to deter the burglar and make life difficult for them.
Do I need a Safe Deposit Box
There are numerous reasons why a Safe Deposit Box makes good sense, but a lot of people are not sure whether they actually need one or not. The simple answer is – if you have any valuables that you want to keep completely safe and secure – then yes – you do need a safe deposit box.
Cork Vaults offers safe storage for students
Average students owns up to €2,500 of essential technology
Be it laptops, memory cards, jewellery or passports, the personal effects that students lug around add up in value to a few thousand euro.
It is estimated that the value of the technology alone that most third level students regard as essential is up to €2,500. They include mobile phones, iPads and laptops. So it’s imperative that they insure their property and find a safe place to keep valuables secure and accessible.
Brexit vote sparks rush to secure gold and cash in Dublin
The owner of a safe deposit vault in Dublin said new clients from Northern Ireland had trebled in recent weeks amid uncertainty surround Brexit.
Séamus Fahy, founder of Cork Vaults at Merrion Square in the city said fears over the UK’s exit from the European Union and the impact of negative interest rates across were driving factors behind the growth.
He said there was increased demand for safe deposit boxes to store cash and gold at the Cork Vaults and another facility in Glasgow in recent weeks.
“However, following the referendum result favouring Britain to leave the EU, we are inundated with calls from new clients in Northern Ireland who are either storing cash in the vaults or investing in gold,” he added.
“The bank service charges cost more to keep the cash in bank accounts compared to putting the cash in safe deposit boxes.”
Among fears to arise from the shock outcome of the EU referendum was a possible lowering in interest rates – already at a historic low of 0.5 per cent in the UK.
Nicola Sturgeon MSP Officially Opens Glasgow Vaults
Nicola Sturgeon MSP has officially opened Scotland’s first independent safe deposit box service in Glasgow.
Based in the city’s southside, Glasgow Vaults has been introduced in response to the major banks withdrawing the service that safeguards people’s valuable possessions.
The venture is being led by David Walsh and Seamus Fahy, who have invested in the region of £1m equipping the vault with the latest state-of-the-art surveillance technology, including seismic shock sensors, 24/7 monitoring and biometric identification technology.
Employing five staff, the Glasgow facility is part of a strategy to expand the model across the UK and Ireland, following the successful launch of its first site in Dublin in 2013. The business is expected to grow its staff numbers in Glasgow to 15 by the middle of 2017.
Speaking at the officially opening today, Friday 19th, Nicola Sturgeon, the MSP for Glasgow Southside, said: “………………..”
Seamus thanked the MSP for her attendance, as he revealed that Glasgow Vaults is already growing a strong customer base with both homeowners and the local business community.
He said: “Firstly I would like to thank Nicola Sturgeon MSP for her attendance and support as we launch a new service in Scotland, it is very much appreciated.
“We launched in Dublin three years ago, very much in response to demand from people who had either lost confidence in the banking system or were looking to keep possessions safe amidst rising crime figures.
“The business has delivered consistent growth and we have been exploring opportunities to grow our footprint across other UK regions.
“After considerable due diligence we identified Scotland as a key growth region, mainly due to the fact that the banks no longer offer the service and there are no other providers in the market place.
“We have already witnessed a strong demand for our service with homeowners and the business community, and our client footprint stretches as far as Aberdeen, where oil & gas workers are keen to keep their valuables safe when working offshore.”
Typical items stored in a safe deposit box include cash, jewellery, family heirlooms, gold bullion, Title Deeds for a property, memory devices, watch collections and passports.
With latest Police Scotland figures showing that there were 20,607 reported housebreakings in Scotland in 2014/15, Seamus expects demand for the service to grow.
To meet this demand, Glasgow Vaults has in the region of 10,000 boxes, which come in ten different sizes and start from £150 a year. Client have unlimited access seven days per week and there is no appointment necessary.
Seamus added: “While crime overall is falling, figures show that housebreakings remain high and thieves are certainly becoming more and more sophisticated in their efforts to target properties – making it vital for individuals and business owners to safeguard their valuables and money.
“Complete peace of mind can only be given through the use of a safe deposit box, which is why an increasing number of people across Scotland are turning to us to provide a convenient and affordable way to protect valuable possessions.
“We have built in capacity to meet this increasing demand and will grow our staff numbers to ensure we provide a comprehensive and personal service to our customers.”
The vault is open 362 days a year, and was designed in partnership with security consultants working on behalf of insurer Lloyd’s of London.