A new study by the British insurance company Aviva has revealed that 22% of people leave their phones or cameras unattended in public places while taking photos or videos for themselves. According to data, around half of these individuals leave their devices unattended to document personal memories (49%), while 38% do so with the aim of gathering content for social media. Other reasons include creating travel vlogs (34%) and taking photographs (34%), as well as filming fitness videos (19%).

Generation X, aged between 45 and 60 years old, is the most likely to leave phones or cameras unattended to capture social media content (41%) as well as work-related content (25%). Generation Y, aged between 29 and 44 years old, comes in second, with 40% admitting that they may leave their equipment unattended to capture social media content. In contrast, 38% of Generation Z, aged between 18 and 28 years old, reported that they have been distracted from their phones or cameras while in public places, according to petapixel.

The losses are not limited to theft

According to an "Aviva" study, leaving phones and cameras unattended does not only lead to the risk of theft. 25% of users suffered damage to their devices, while another 5% lost their phones or cameras completely. The risk of damage or theft continues even when the devices are in the possession of their owners, as 34% of users dropped their phones or cameras or had them stolen while carrying them.

Tips for protecting devices

Laura Lazarus, Director of Home and Lifestyle Claims at "Aviva", said that people should take simple precautions to protect their phones and cameras from theft. She advised the company's customers in the United Kingdom to consider adding personal property coverage to their insurance policies when taking valuable items outside the home.

"Although documenting our thoughts and memories is beautiful, phones and cameras are valuable things that can quickly attract the attention of opportunistic thieves," Lazarus added. "Taking a few simple precautions, such as keeping devices out of sight when not in use, avoiding distractions, and staying aware of your surroundings, helps reduce the risk of theft. Most insurance policies also require you to take reasonable care of your property, so it's important to keep valuable items with you at all times."

Additional coverage outside the home

She added: “With so many people spending their days on holiday or traveling during the summer holidays, it may be useful to consider an optional add-on known as ‘personal belongings’, which provides cover for valuable items such as phones and cameras and jewelry anywhere in the world. Usually this service is not included as standard in home insurance documents or contents, but it does provide additional protection when away from home.”