Santander Student Current Account includes gadget insurance

More than one in eight students (13 per cent), equivalent to around 209,000 around the UK, have been a victim of theft whilst at university in the last year according to new research from Santander Student Current Accounts. The findings reveal that these thefts were collectively worth over £54 million.

With some students having fallen victim on one or two occasions, the research reveals that there were a total of over 250,000 incidents of theft from students while they were at university in the past year, equivalent to over 700 incidents a day or nearly one theft a minute throughout the year.

The most frequently stolen student possession is money, with 37 per cent of victims having had cash stolen from them. One in four victims (24 per cent) has had their mobile stolen in the past year, and the same number have suffered from bicycle theft.

Other gadgets are also popular targets for thieves; some 13 per cent of victims have had their camera stolen in the past 12 months and one in ten (11 per cent) has had their MP3 player stolen. A further 5 per cent have suffered from the theft of their laptop.

While the average value of possessions taken is £211, one in ten unlucky victims (9 per cent) have had more than £500 worth of items taken. Despite this, over half (53 per cent) of all possessions kept at university by students are not insured while they are there.

Commenting, Helen Bierton, Head of Santander Current Accounts, said: "Students are unfortunately often seen as an easy target by would-be thieves and these figures highlight just how many students are victims of crime during term time. Students should ensure they take precautions to protect themselves and their possessions from crime, and they should ensure their possessions are covered by an appropriate insurance policy so that if they are unlucky enough to become a victim of theft they can make a claim.

"Santander's Student Current Account includes mobile, gadget and laptop insurance worth over £240 a year, so students can look after their bank account requirements and cover some of the items that are most likely to be stolen at the same time."

Santander offers a Student Current Account to support students while they study, offering an interest-free overdraft of up to £2,000 and a range of other benefits including mobile, gadget and laptop insurance worth over £240 a year for up to three years. The account also pays in-credit interest of two per cent on balances of up to £500, to support students at times when they have money coming in and are in credit.