Man bag theft on the rise
Posted: Sat Mar 20, 2010 6:00 pmTaken from Martin Lewis's moneysaving blog,http://blog.moneysavingexpert.com/ just something that tickled me...
“Man-bag theft on the rise
A rise in the popularity of the metrosexual ‘man-bag’ has led to a surge in thefts, costing men £200 million in lost valuables in the past 12 months1.
According to Halifax Home insurance, four in 10 men (38 per cent) now use a hand-bag compared with 91 per cent of women, yet men are three times more likely to have their man-bags stolen2 – with pubs, gyms and shopping centres common theft hotspots.
The man-bag has been made fashionable by celebrity role models such as Brad Pitt, David Beckham, and 24’s Jack Bauer – doubling in popularity in the past year3 as men seek out stylish carriers for their personal possessions. Another key factor in the popularity of the male handbag – also known as the ‘bropack’ or ‘nerd purse’ – has been the boom in skinny jean sales4 – which leave little pocket space for wallets and phones.
The result is a bag typically worth more than £260, containing expensive items such as iPhones, portable games consoles and laptops. Other common items carried in the man-bag include ‘lads mags’, house keys and hair products. Commenting on the findings, Martyn Foulds, senior claims manager at Halifax Home Insurance said:
“Women rarely let their handbags out of their sight but men are yet to learn that their man-bags present a juicy steal for opportunist thieves.
“With theft figures so high, men need to be extra vigilant with their possessions. As well as taking sensible precautions like keeping their belongings in sight and their man-bags zipped up, men should ensure they have personal possessions cover as part of their home insurance, so that if the worst does happen they will be covered against any losses.”
The Man-bag – typical contents
1. Books/magazines (47 per cent)
2. Mobile phone (28 per cent)
3. Keys (26 per cent)
4. Laptop (21 per cent)
5. Wallet (19 per cent)
6. Diary (19 per cent)
7. Umbrella (17 per cent)
8. MP3 player (15 per cent)
9. Grooming products (12 per cent)
10. Portable games console (4 per cent)
Methodology
Research was commissioned by Halifax Home Insurance plc and conducted by ICM Research between in 19-22 February 2010.The research programme used a nationally representative survey of 1000 male adults 18+.
Footnotes
1. Of the 38 per cent of men using man bags, 9 per cent have had them stolen in the last 12 months. The average value of a man bag and contents is £260, which equates to a total loss of £202 million worth of valuables.
2. The ICM research showed that one in 10 men who use man-bags (nine per cent) have had their man-bag stolen in the last year, with the five most common theft hotspots being the pub (3%), while walking home (2%), in the gym (1%), on the high-street (1%) or at a shopping centre (1%). This figure is three times the incidence of female handbag theft (3%) recorded in a CPP report into personal theft.
3. The ICM research showed that 38 per cent of men use a satchel or strapped bag to carry everyday items when out and about, compared to 18.8 per cent of men in 2009 – according to a similar study carried out by CPP. This represents a 102% increase in one year, or doubling in popularity.
4. According to Topman, one of the UK’s largest men’s fashion stores the sale of man-bags are up 50% on 12 months previous and skinny jeans are up 49%, and make up 26% of all denim sales.”
