GREENSBORO, N.C. — In Rockingham County, a 15-year-old on a bicycle was arrested for car thefts. Police say he would smash and grab items he saw in plain sight. In Mebane, police say thieves driving a stolen car smashed and grabbed from cars in the parking lots of Cracker Barrel and the Tanger Outlets. 

When this happens, who pays for the damage and the items stolen?

“Homeowners insurance covers the stuff, the things inside, the laptop, the clothes, the iPhone you left in there, that’s a homeowner’s insurance claim. Auto insurance covers the damage to your car, the broken window,” said Christopher Cook of Alliance Insurance Services. 

Comprehensive auto coverage, if you have that kind of coverage,  covers damage done to the vehicle that is not crash-related, and it covers if your car is stolen. Comprehensive coverage is not required by North Carolina unless you are financing your car. But car insurance does not cover items stolen from inside the auto.

If you don’t own your home, renters insurance is what you need. Now, before you say your apartment complex has insurance, read this. 

“You can’t insure something you don’t own and your apartment complex doesn’t own your goods, and so they are responsible for repairs to the building, the apartment complex would be, but they’re not responsible in any way for damage to your stuff whether that’s your furniture, your clothing, your electronics, whatever it is,” said Cook. 

Renters insurance is pretty affordable, we’re talking $10 to $20 a month. It covers all your belongings inside where you live and in your car.