Students who may be leaving home for the very first time to start university are being advised to ensure their most expensive possessions are insured in light of recent statistics. Research found that during the course of the last academic year, 13% of students fell victim to some form of theft which equates to 209,000 students in UK universities. In total it’s estimated that £54 million worth of goods were stolen over the last 12 months, with the average cost of stolen items standing at £211. Costly items are the most likely to be targeted by thieves such as lap tops, mobile phones, bicycles and iPods. Over the last 12 months, 13% of students complained of having their cameras stolen, 11% had their MP3 player taken, and 5% were robbed of their lap tops. Students are being advised to take out adequate cover on their most expensive possessions before setting off to university. In some cases, the home insurance policy of a parent can extend cover to specific items belonging to the child, however you will have to confirm this with the insurance provider first. Another way for students to get adequate cover for their possession when living away from home is via their bank account. Selected banks are offering home insurance cover as part of their student bank accounts which will allow freshers the opportunity to insure their most valuable items.