08 January 2026
Allianz UK warns gold and jewellery
thefts spike in January
One claim totalled £82,000 and highlights the importance of having the right level of insurance cover
Thefts of gold and jewellery peak in the month of January, figures from leading insurer Allianz reveal.
Claims figures between January 2021 and end of 2025, indicate that 10% of all jewellery and gold theft claims occur in January. The most commonly stolen items include watches, jewellery and luxury goods such as designer handbags.
During this period, Allianz settled 2,800 claims for stolen gold and jewellery with the average cost of a claim totaling about £8,000. One claim for theft of gold and jewellery totaled more than £82,000 following a burglary after thieves stole two Rolex watches and a Cartier bracelet.
While the price of gold remains near all-time highs at more than £3,000 an ounce*, homeowners should take action to help ensure their gold and jewellery remains safe, and make sure they are not underinsured.
Protect your valuables
Homeowners can take steps to protect their valuables storing them in a safe or deposit box and installing home security systems.
They should keep a professional valuation for each piece of jewellery or gold item, and keep detailed records, including photographs, receipts, and descriptions of each item, in the event of a claim.
They should also inform their insurer about any significant changes to their collection to ensure continuous and adequate coverage.
The perils of underinsurance
Underinsurance – where policyholders underestimate the value of their possessions and the level of insurance does not cover the value of the items insured – is a widespread problem in the home insurance market.
The consequences of underinsurance can be serious and homeowners can see the value of claims payouts reduced when they make a claim. Burglaries, fires and floods can be hugely expensive and it is important for homeowners to ensure they have the right level of cover to protect their possessions.
Graham Wright, Managing Director of Home Insurance at Allianz UK, said:
“Gold and jewellery items are tempting targets for thieves, especially on dark winter nights when burglaries are more common. They often represent significant financial and sentimental value, and it’s important that home owners take action to ensure their valuables remain safe.
“It’s also important homeowners check their insurance policy provides enough cover to match the value of their possessions. It’s easy to underestimate what your home contents are worth and that can lead to underinsurance. Making sure your ‘total sum insured’ is enough to fully cover your home and everything in it, means you won’t be out of pocket when it comes to a claim.”
*Claims between January 2021 and October 2025.
* Gold price: Gold.co.uk
Notes to Editors
Media contact:
David Gwyer Tel: 07384 533714| [email protected]
About Allianz Holdings plc
Allianz Holdings plc is the non-regulated holding company which owns the principal insurance operations of Allianz SE in Great Britain including Allianz Insurance.
About Allianz
The Allianz Group is one of the world's leading insurers and asset managers serving private and corporate customers in nearly 70 countries. Allianz customers benefit from a broad range of personal and corporate insurance services, ranging from property, life and health insurance to assistance services to credit insurance and global business insurance. Allianz is one of the world’s largest investors, managing around 761 billion euros* on behalf of its insurance customers. Furthermore, our asset managers PIMCO and Allianz Global Investors manage about 1.9 trillion euros* of third-party assets. Thanks to our systematic integration of ecological and social criteria in our business processes and investment decisions, we are among the leaders in the insurance industry in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index. In 2024, over 156,000 employees achieved total business volume of 179.8 billion euros and an operating profit of 16.0 billion euros for the Group.
* As of September 30, 2025.
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