What vandalism / theft coverage includes
Most Florida HO-3 and commercial policies cover:
- Break-in damage: forced doors, broken windows, damaged frames and hardware
- Interior damage: destruction during the break-in (broken furniture, damaged walls)
- Stolen items: personal property with limits and sublimits (jewelry, firearms, cash)
- Vandalism: graffiti, intentional damage
- Tenant damage: intentional destruction by a tenant (commercial / landlord policies)
- Locksmith / re-keying: some policies; others require a specific endorsement
The police report is non-negotiable
Without a police report, most carriers deny theft claims entirely. Within the first 24 hours:
- Call law enforcement. Get a case number.
- List every stolen item on the report. Omissions hurt the claim.
- Request a written copy; it will be needed for the insurance file.
- If you discover additional stolen items later, file an amended report.
Why theft claims are commonly underpaid
- No proof of ownership. For high-value items (jewelry, electronics, firearms), the carrier demands proof the item existed. Photos, receipts, appraisals, and family-gathering photos all count.
- Sublimits. Jewelry sublimit ($1,500-$2,500), firearms sublimit ($2,000-$2,500), cash sublimit ($200) all cap recovery unless items are scheduled on a floater.
- Depreciation applied aggressively. Stolen electronics and appliances depreciated to near-zero; replacement-cost provisions often not invoked correctly.
- Structural damage missed. Break-in damage (doors, windows, frames, locks) sometimes rolled up as "incidental" when it's a separately-reimbursable scope.
- Business-property-in-home sublimit. If stolen items included work-from-home equipment, the $2,500 business sublimit may apply unless properly scheduled.
How Ocean Point handles vandalism / theft claims
- Coordinate with law enforcement on the police report.
- Build a stolen-items inventory with proof-of-ownership documentation (photos, receipts, insurance appraisals, bank statements).
- Document structural damage (break-in points, interior destruction) separately from the stolen-items claim.
- Review any personal-articles floaters for scheduled high-value items.
- Negotiate depreciation and invoke RCV holdback as repairs and replacements complete.
Proof-of-ownership tips
- Photos from family gatherings, holidays, and birthdays often prove ownership of stolen items
- Credit-card and bank statements from the original purchase
- Insurance appraisals for jewelry, art, and scheduled items
- Manufacturer records (serial numbers for firearms, electronics)
- Tax returns showing home-office equipment
Who leads vandalism / theft claims
Eli Goins (FL DFS #P159790) leads complex theft and vandalism claims. The full team supports across claim types.