Kitchen storeroom for Brits’ valuables

Britons’ kitchens are home to many of their most valuable personal possessions and documents, according to new research by Legal & General.

Despite heightened concerns over identity theft and Government campaigning to reduce burglary rates, 73% of Brits leave their most valuable possessions lying around in their kitchen, with keys, money, valuable documents, mobile phones and even medication all featuring in the top ten list of items left in the kitchen.

Top 10 items left in the British kitchen

Kitchen Valuables - %

1 Keys 43%
2 Post 42%
3 Mobile phone / PDA 38%
4 Medicines 29%
= 5 Specs / sunglasses 26%
= 5 Loose change 26%
7 Wallet / purse 25%
8 Handbag 20%
9 Bank statements and other information with personal details or financial details 16%
10 Credit cards 11%

The Legal & General Changing Face of British Homes research is based on the views of over 4,000 Britons and aims to establish how the uses of the home, and in particular the kitchen, are changing. With previous research revealing that the modern kitchen is used for much more than eating, the latest findings reveal how, with people studying, working and socialising in the kitchen, this room is also the place where many leave valuable possessions

Family kitchen has most valuable items

The family kitchen stands out as having the most valuables, with 82% of young families keeping most of their valuable possessions in the kitchen. With their normally hectic home lives, families with children under 18 are the most likely to leave their keys, 52%, credit cards, 14%, medication, 33%, purses and wallets, 34%, and personal details, 25%, lying around in their kitchen.

As the family kitchen becomes the study and organisation zone of the house, it is also the home of the household diary, 10%, post, 50%, and bank statements, 25%.

Young professionals’ musical kitchens

Households of young professionals are the most likely to leave their music and iPods on display in the kitchen. Almost one in five, 19%, said their MP3 players are stored in the kitchen and 20% say it’s where they keep their CDs.

A further 7% of young professionals living with friends leave their laptop in the kitchen.

Regional findings

Welsh kitchens are the most likely to have valuables left in them, 79%. Nearly one in three, 29%, of people in Wales leave their purse or wallet in the kitchen and a further 22% keep their handbag in the kitchen.

People in the Midlands and Lancashire are the most tidy with 71% not leaving any valuables in their kitchen.

Households in Scotland are the most likely to leave their keys, 49%, and wallets, 28%, in the kitchen; 44% leave their post in the kitchen and 30% leave medication lying around.
Ruth Wilkins, Head of communications at Legal & General’s general insurance business commented: “The look and feel of today’s homes is changing to reflect the changing demographics of different households. The items that people leave lying around in their kitchen make an interesting statement about the way people live their lives. It also raises concern about the security of those items in the home. Leaving personal, often valuable, possessions on display could increase the risk of burglary and theft.

It is so important that people store personal documents and valuables in a safe place, in case of a break in. In addition, homeowners should review their insurance to make sure they are covered, as many of the items left in the kitchen can cost a lot of money to replace.”