Gone in a flash: One in five leave their phone or camera unattended in public

New research from insurer, Aviva, reveals that more than one in five people (22%) leave their phone or camera unattended in a public place to photograph or film themselves^[1].

Just under half (49%) leave their phone or camera unattended to capture personal memories, followed by gathering content for their social media channels (38%).  Other reasons include creating travel vlogs or taking photos (34%), and fitness videos (19%).

Gen X (45-60-years-old) are the most likely to leave phones or cameras unattended for social media content (41%), and professional content for work (25%). They were followed by Millennials (29-44-years-old) where 40% acknowledged that they would leave equipment unattended to film social media content, and 38% of Gen Z (18-28-years-old) who were distracted from their phones or cameras whilst in public.

Laura Lazarus, Director of Home and Lifestyle claims at Aviva, comments: “Although it’s nice to document our thoughts and memories, phones and cameras are valuable items that can quickly attract the attention of opportunist thieves. Taking a few simple precautions, such as keeping devices out of sight when not in use, avoiding distractions and staying aware of your surroundings, can help reduce the risk of theft. Most policies will also stipulate that you must take reasonable care of your belongings, which is why it’s important to always keep valuables on you.

“With many people taking days out or travelling during the summer holidays, it could be worth considering an optional add-on known as Personal Belongings, which provides cover for valuables such as phones, cameras, and jewellery anywhere in the world. This usually isn’t included as standard in home or contents policies, but  can provide added protection when outside of the home.”

Theft isn’t the only issue when leaving phones and cameras unattended – with a further quarter (25%) experiencing damage and a further 5% losing their phone or camera entirely.

Worryingly, the risk continues even when valuables are in a person’s possession, with just over a third of people (34%) having either dropped or had their phone or camera stolen whilst still holding it.

Causes of claims include:^[2]

• Accidentally dropping a camera out of an open window
• Propping up a tablet which has then slipped and fallen onto a hard floor or over a ledge
• Knocking over an entire tripod, causing damage to the attached camera or lens.

Aviva’s top tips for protecting valuables:

Do not leave high value items unattended in public: If filming or photographing yourself in public, it is always a good idea to bring a friend or family member with you who can remain by your equipment to reduce the risk of theft or damage from passers-by. If this isn’t possible, consider holding your phone or camera ‘selfie style’ so that it remains on your person.

Be aware of your surroundings when filming: It's easy to become focused on your phone or camera and lose track of what's happening around you. Before recording, take a moment to assess your surroundings and avoid becoming distracted by your screen for long periods.

Take out insurance and consider add-ons: Home insurance is designed to protect your home and belongings if something unexpected goes wrong. If you're using your phone or camera away from home, you may wish to consider adding optional Personal Belongings cover, which provides cover for your items anywhere in the world. This includes damage, loss or theft.

Check for single item limits: Many policies have a maximum claim limit for a single item. If your item is worth more than the single item limit – which is £2,500 under an Aviva Signature policy - it will need to be specified to make sure it is fully covered.

Busting the myths of home insurance

What is home insurance?

Home insurance is designed to protect your home and belongings if something unexpected goes wrong. It can typically be bought in three ways: 

• Buildings insurance covers the structure of your home – such as the walls, roof, floors, and permanent fixtures – against risks like fire, flooding, storms, theft or damage. This type of cover is usually only needed if you own your home. 

• Contents insurance protects your belongings in the home, including furniture, electronics, clothes and valuables, if they’re damaged, destroyed or stolen. It’s worth considering this regardless of whether you own your home or rent, as it protects your belongings rather than the property itself and can provide temporary accommodation cover if your home was uninhabitable for a period of time. 

• Combined buildings and contents insurance covers the structure of the home and its contents. This can be a cost-effective option if you’re a homeowner. 

What is personal belongings cover?

Personal Belongings cover typically protects personal items when they have been taken outside the home. This usually covers damage or loss to items anywhere in the world, as opposed to damage that has occurred solely within the home. It isn’t always included as standard in home insurance policies and is an optional add-on to contents insurance - usually at an additional cost.

Typically, personal belongings cover will protect your possessions against:

• Theft in a public place – such as phones, money, or credit cards being stolen when outside of the house.
• Loss – for example, accidentally leaving sports equipment behind at a venue, or losing an item of jewellery.
• Accidental damage – such as dropping a laptop and breaking the screen, which according to our data causes £734 worth of damage on average^[2]

What isn’t covered by personal belongings?

Although home insurance covers a range of scenarios, it isn’t designed to cover every eventuality. 

Personal belongings won’t cover gradual deterioration to possessions over time, such as a loose clasp on jewellery, or any damage caused by lack of maintenance, such as not clearing a charging port from debris on a smart watch. It also won’t cover mechanical or electrical failure (e.g. a laptop that stops working on its own) or poor workmanship, design faults or defective materials. 

-ends-

References:

^1. _{Research conducted by Censuswide, among a sample of 2,000 nationally representative consumers (18+) from 10.03.26-13.03.26 [↑]}

^2. _{Aviva accidental damage claims specifying ‘phones’ and cameras’ from January 2022 to June 2026 [↑]}

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