The ‘real' cost of a lost handbag

Women are carrying around too much personal information in their handbags and are leaving themselves open to identity theft, according to research by Sheilas' Wheels home insurance, if their bag was either lost or snatched.

Almost two thirds of all women's handbags contain at least one item that could be used to steal their owner's identity: nearly half contain a diary with personal details; a quarter have a cheque book; one in eight women carry utility bills in their handbags - one of the most useful ‘proof of identity' documents for fraudsters - while 7 per cent admit to carrying around their passport on a regular basis.

With the average value of a handbag and its contents estimated at £290, the real cost of having a handbag stolen is likely to be much more as identity theft in the UK has now topped £1.7 billion per year.

It's important for women to take steps to protect their personal information at all times. The survey revealed that one in three women (36 per cent) admit they carry around too much and never bother to clear out their handbag. This lack of ‘decluttering' their personal items - fuelled by the growth in size of celebrity ‘must have' handbags - leaves women vulnerable to opportunistic identity thieves if their bag is snatched from their arm or their car.

Sheilas' Wheels urges women to change their bag habits by carrying around only the bare essentials, leaving important documents at home, choosing a secure bag, and remaining vigilant whilst out and about, and in their cars:

Choose a ‘safe' handbag - a handbag with buckles or other secure fastenings will make it more difficult for criminals to access. Always use inner compartments and zipped pockets for valuable items.

Only carry around what you need - declutter your bag regularly and don't carry around documents containing personal information that may be used to steal your identity.

Carry your handbag securely - choose a bag with a long strap so you can wear it diagonally across your chest.

Keep your bag out of sight whilst driving - alarmingly over a quarter of women (26 per cent) drive with their car doors unlocked and their handbag on the passenger seat. Never do this - use your foot well, glovebox, or put your bag under the seat.

Jacky Brown at Sheilas' Wheels home insurance, commented: "Losing a bag and its contents not only creates the obvious problem of loss of cash and credit cards, but can lead to identity theft. With the size of fashionable handbags on the up, it's crucial to only carry around the bare essentials and declutter regularly. Ridding bags of items such as old utility bills, post and cheque books could reduce the risk of having your identity stolen if your handbag is snatched."

Sheilas' Wheels home insurance offers free online access to the CreditExpert identity theft and fraud detection service - provided by Experian - with either buildings or contents cover. Experian will monitor credit reports and provide alerts to help customers detect potential fraudulent activity. Sheilas' Wheels car insurance offers handbag cover which provides up to £300 of cover for handbags and its contents if stolen from the car.