Home insurance warning over gadgets

Brits are frequently leaving the house with expensive items on their person, making them a target for muggers, according to new research.

Zurich's Walking Wealthy Survey revealed that the average person carries some £970 worth of items on them, a 14 per cent rise from two years ago.

The home insurance provider attributes this growth to the trend for gadgets such as iPods, BlackBerries and mobile phones .

According to research, people do not make an effort to hideaway these goods, with a third of respondents saying they would not give a second thought to using them in public.

The study also highlighted that some 30 per cent of people were not sure whether their home insurance covers them for content taken out of their homes .

Mike Quinton, managing director for Direct and Partnerships at Zurich, said: The majority of people in the UK are not aware of the real value of the belongings they carry on them. We all need to be vigilant and make sure we're discreet with these expensive items to avoid being targeted by muggers.

In related news, Swinton recently warned that holidaymakers should be careful to make their homes secure against thieves while they are away.