Festival goers urged by Aviva to protect belongings as season gets underway

Authored by Aviva

• Phones, jewellery and money/wallets amongst popular claimed-for items
• Average claimant loses £1,663 to theft and £868 to accidents*

With thousands of festival-goers set to soak up the sun this summer, Aviva is urging people to take care when it comes to looking after their belongings.

The warning comes as Aviva home claims data suggests that as festivals return following the pandemic hiatus, so could personal belonging claims for those enjoying the fun.

The data, which looks at claims over the last six years, reveals hundreds of personal belongings have fallen foul of festivals. Claims for loss and accidental damage include incidents involving spilled drinks, hazardous trips to the toilet and damage when dancing the night away.  

Festivals can also prove tempting for more unscrupulous visitors, with thefts another popular reason for claims. The data reveals that most theft-related claims have been a result of ‘opportunistic theft’, with items such as phones and money/wallets making up 69% and 21% of claims respectively. Around one in seven claims (15%) include jewellery, while a similar proportion (14%) include both money and phone.

Kelly Whittington, Property Claims Director for Aviva said: “Festivals are a wonderful way to unwind and soak up the atmosphere that comes with seeing live entertainment. While we all want to make unforgettable memories, there are so many distractions at festivals which can make them a playground for thieves and accidents waiting to happen.

“Though it’s unlikely you’ll be a victim of loss or theft with many festivals having strict safety measures in place, there is always a risk, which is why it’s important to remain vigilant. Even using something like a lanyard for your phone can deter opportunistic thieves in the heat of the moment, with our data showing that small items such as phones and wallets or cash are the most likely to be stolen.

“We’d urge festival goers to make sure their belongings are protected - both in and away from your home – giving you peace of mind knowing that your items are covered should the worst happen. Personal belongings insurance can be a valuable addition to a home insurance policy to ensure that your possessions are insured away from home.”

Aviva’s top tips for protecting valuables include:

• Pack light – Really think about what counts as ‘essential’ and what you carry on you throughout the day. There’s only so much room in bags and pockets, so if it’s sentimental or high in value, it might be worth leaving it at home. 
• Deter, deter, deter - Thieves are opportunistic and will often go for items in plain sight such as phones or wallets in back pockets. Where possible, always try to secure items in the inside pockets of bags, lanyards round your neck or front pockets of clothes.
• Invest in a protective case – It’s very easy to drop items such as phones and cameras in our everyday lives, let alone when in a crowd full of people. Making sure you’ve got a sturdy case and screen protector is one way to help prevent a cracked screen or lens.
• Avoid leaving valuables in your tent unattended – While you can padlock your tent and separate your valuables to minimise the risk of everything being taken in one go, if it’s important to you, the general rule of thumb is to leave it at home.
• Don’t duplicate your cover – If you’re heading to a festival abroad, it’s worth looking at your existing home insurance policy to see if you have personal belongings cover, which could insure your items outside of the home, anywhere in the world. Doing so could prevent you from needing to purchase additional travel insurance for your belongings.

*Data taken from Aviva home insurance claims from 2016-2022.