25 November 2008
The women-only car insurance company Diamond is urging female drivers not to leave their handbags unattended in their cars.
According to a survey carried out by the company, over 400,000 British women have had their bags stolen from their vehicle in the last 12 months.
With the average handbag and its contents adding up to around £431, the overall cost of such handbag theft comes to £178 million.
As well as losing their valuables, female drivers who leave their handbags in their cars could also see their car insurance premiums rise if they have to make a claim as a result of damage to their vehicle.
Sian Lewis, managing director of Diamond, said: "It's shocking to see just how many handbags are stolen each year from cars and that shows exactly why you should never leave your bag on display in your car."
Earlier this month, research carried out by the car insurance provider LV= revealed that one in four drivers have been the victim of a car break-in.