UK teenagers worth an average of nearly £500 every time they step out of the front door a new study reveals.

Teenagers are worth nearly £50 more2 when they leave the house than in 2010 according to Allianz Your Cover, thanks to the clothes they wear and the gadgets they carry. If a teenager is also carrying an iPad, MP3 Player and a hand-held games console they could be worth as much as £810.

Andy James of Allianz Your Cover, said: “Young people are carrying more expensive belongings than ever before. Our research shows this figure is going up every year – over the course of two years the amount of cash teenagers are carrying has increased from £42 to £89.

“We are encouraging teenagers and their parents to do what they can to prevent theft outside of the home. Being vigilant when out, mindful of personal safety and only carrying essential items, can all help to reduce the risk of items being lost or stolen.”

It appears however parents are unaware of this spiralling trend as only 5% think their teenagers are taking more expensive items out with them when compared to this time last year.

Parents reveal that over half (54%) of their teenage children have lost or had an item stolen – an increase from a third (29%) in 2010. This rising trend is worrying parents as nearly half (48%) think their children are vulnerable to crimes such as mugging and more than a third (35%) are more concerned than 12 months ago.

The items teenagers are most likely to lose or have stolen are

Mobile phone (23%)
Cash (20%)
Watch (19%)
Andy James continues: “Of the parents whose teenage children have lost or had an item stolen, only a third (32%) have claimed or have considered claiming on their house insurance for the loss. As teenagers are carrying increasingly expensive belongings, parents should make sure their home insurance covers their teens’ possessions outside of the home if something unfortunate should happen when they are out and about.”

Your Cover Insurance, Allianz UK’s flexible insurance offering enables policy holders to purchase personal possessions cover which gives additional protection for items outside of the home.