Property in Transit Coverage Extension Issue

January 9, 2012

Insured had various handtools stolen from his locked vehicle: an angle drill, gas tester, micro gauges, and gas meter. All were lying separate. The vehicle was parked at a customer's property not within a thousand feet of the insured premises.

The insured has a Causes of Loss – Special form, CP 10 30 06 07, which contains the following provision:
F. Additional Coverage Extension 1.) Property in transit. This extension applies only to your personal property to which this form applies. b. Loss or damage must be caused by or result from one of the following causes of loss:3) Theft of an entire bale, case or package by forced entry into a securely locked body or compartment of the vehicle.

Is there coverage? What is meant by “bale, case or package”?

Kentucky Subscriber

The theft portion of this coverage extension does not apply to loose articles. Since the policy does not define these terms, we look to the dictionary definition. Merriam-Webster Online defines “bale” as “a large bundle of goods; specifically : a large closely pressed package of merchandise bound and usually wrapped”; ”case” is defined as “a box together with its contents”; and “package” is defined as “a commodity or a unit of a product uniformly wrapped or sealed.” Thus, as the loose tools you listed do not fit the definition of a “bale, case or package,” there would be no coverage.

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