Students warned over home insurance security at university

Students must make sure they take security precautions when starting out at university, one home insurance firm has warned.

Elaine Parkes, head of technical services for Legal and General's general insurance business explains that statistics indicate those at university are more likely to fall victim to crime than some other groups.

According to the recent Crime in England and Wales 2007-08 report, full-time students are twice as likely to be burgled as those in managerial and professional positions.

Ms Parkes said: Most household insurance policies will only accept a claim if it is clear that force was used to gain entry to the room.

For this reason, it is important that people secure internal and external doors even if they do not leave the property, she added.

Recently, the Observer reported comments by Graeme Trudgill, spokesperson for the British Insurance Brokers' Association, who urged people to put home insurance in place to avoid having to pay out to replace lost or stolen items.