Student Theft Costs £126m Per Year

Home insurance provider, Churchill, is urging parents to make sure their children’s contents are insured and that they are security-conscious when they go away to university. This follows new research which shows that student thefts are sweeping across campuses at a cost of £126million per year.

The research, commissioned by Churchill Home Insurance, reveals that nearly half of all students (47%) suffered from theft last year, costing them £323 each. Over 391,000 students had personal items such as mobile phones, I-pods and TVs stolen whilst they were away studying. And, as students are taking away possessions adding up to an average £2515, thieves are seeing them as an easy target.

Top 10 Stolen Items

1. Mobile Phone (20%)

2. i-pod/MP3 player (19%)

3. TV (16%)

4. Digital Camera (16%)

5. Laptop/Computer (15%)

6. Video/DVD Player (15%)

7. DVDs and CDs (15%)

8. Household items (15%)

9. Stereo (14%)

10. Games Console (14%)

Martin Scott, Head of Churchill Home Insurance, said:

“Insurance and adequate security is unlikely to be at the forefront of parent’s minds as their children go off to university, but many will be surprised at the value of possessions being taken into shared accommodation or halls of residence. Typically these include an array of high value, portable, technical goods which are very attractive to opportunist thieves.”

As standard, Churchill provides up to £4,000 cover for contents that are lost or damaged when they are temporarily kept in student accommodation, covering events such as fire and flood as well as theft by force and violence.

Facts and tips from Churchill Home Insurance:

• 47% of students said they didn’t have adequate locks on their front or back doors and 16% said their belongings were still accessible to previous tenants as the locks had not been changed. Students should check locks upon arrival and ask the landlord if they can add deadbolts for extra security
• 41% of students let their housemates or fellow residents have full access to their belongings and 46% never lock their bedroom doors. Students need to be vigilant with any valuables and keep them locked in their rooms
• Only 27% of students mark their belongings with an ultra-violet pen. Students should mark their property with their university name, student ID number and term-time address
• 69% of students leave their valuables in view of the window. Students should make sure that any valuables are not visible from the outside

Notes to Editors:

Research commissioned by Churchill Home Insurance with 891 students in July 2006
Exact figure: £126,609,540. Based on % of students who have suffered theft (47%), the number of full-time UK undergrad students (834,000) living away from home during term-time and the average value of theft (£323).
Exact figure 834,000, source: Higher Education Statistics Agency, 2006.
Churchill theft cover applies in the case of theft with forced and violent entry. Churchill Insurance recommends additional cover for any other type of theft.

For more information please contact:

Abi Clark
Churchill Insurance
020 8313 5830
pressoffice@churchill.com