Break-ins get the attention. They are among the cheaper claims.

A break-in feels like the worst kind of loss: the broken door, the missing register, the police report. It is also a claim that, on average, costs less than most of the others. In its 2015 small-business claims report, The Hartford said burglary and theft affected 20 percent of small business owners in the past five years, more than any other claim.

The cost was modest. The same report said burglary and theft ranked lowest of the top 10 most costly claims, averaging $8,000. By comparison, it listed fire at $35,000 and vehicle accidents at $45,000. The report analyzed five years of claims data (2010 to 2014) from more than one million of its policies.

Still frequent today

The Hartford's 2025 follow-up found that claims from water and freezing damage had risen to 20 percent, tying water damage with burglary and theft as the most frequent reasons small businesses file. Break-ins have not gone away. They have simply been joined at the top.

Where the deductible comes in

A deductible is the portion of an insured loss paid by the policyholder, according to the NAIC glossary. Here is a made-up example to show why it matters: if a theft costs $8,000 and your deductible is $5,000, the insurer pays about $3,000 and you pay the rest. With a $1,000 deductible, you pay far less.

The NAIC notes that choosing a plan with a higher-than-average deductible can lower premiums. That can be a smart trade, as long as you could actually pay that deductible after a loss.

What to ask about theft coverage

• What is the theft deductible? It may differ from the deductible for fire or water.
• Is cash covered? Ask whether money and securities, and any amount kept in a safe, are covered, and up to what limit.
• What about employees? Ask whether theft by an employee is covered or must be added.
• Are items outside covered? Ask about outdoor signs, equipment kept outside and stock in a storage unit.
• Does an alarm help? Ask whether an alarm or cameras earn a discount.

Do not stop at the lock

Break-ins are worth guarding against, and a good lock, an alarm and a camera all help. But do not let the dramatic claim crowd out the costly one. In The Hartford's 2015 ranking the most expensive claims were reputational harm at $50,000, vehicle accidents at $45,000, and fire and product liability at $35,000 each. A policy designed around theft alone would miss most of the money.

Keep a list of what is in the business, with serial numbers on equipment, and photos. After a break-in, you will be asked what was taken, and the answer is much easier with a list in hand.