If you have a roommate, you may be a student, a young professional, or just plain trying to save money. Some people have close friendships with their roommates, while others keep their relationships simple: just roommates. If you don’t have a close, trusting relationship with the person with whom you live, then perhaps it would be wise to consider these tips to prevent your valuables from being stolen:

1. Before moving in with your roommate, have a conversation with them about boundaries. Are there things you don’t feel comfortable sharing with or lending to your roommate? Now is the time to draw these lines in the sand.
2. Keep your valuable items—your cell phone, your computer, your jewelry, to name a few—in a safe place. Don’t leave them lying around in common spaces like the kitchen, living room or bathroom. You might also consider having your most valuable items engraved, clearly making those items one-of-a-kind and easily identifiable.
3. If you don’t share a bedroom with your roommate, install a lock accessible only with a key to your bedroom door. This will prevent your roommate from getting inside, as well as any house guests he or she might invite over.
4. Keep your personal spaces tidy—if your room is messy, it could be difficult to locate your valuable items. If something is missing, you’ll notice quicker. And, on the off chance you simply couldn’t find whatever’s missing and it turns up, you could avoid an uncomfortable interaction in which you accused your roommate of theft, when he or she did no such thing.
5. Invest in a safe and/or a camera to add extra security.
6. Be mindful of what you post on social media—a new laptop might be exciting news, but some people do not need to know what types of valuables you are keeping in your bedroom.
7. Store things elsewhere: at a friend’s house, with family—anyone you would trust to look after anything you’d want protected.
8. Invest in homeowners or renter’s insurance. These policies can help reimburse your stolen goods should your roommate commit theft against you—as long as they are not named on your policy.

Having a roommate is a great way to save money and common among young professionals. However, it’s important to protect yourself in the event your roommate is less than trustworthy. Give our office a call today to talk about your homeowners or renter’s policy to make sure you are covered.