Are you covered if your walkman goes walkies?

This week marks the 30th anniversary of the launch of the Sony Walkman, which changed the listening habits of music lovers everywhere, allowing them to carry their music with them. 30 years on, and MP3 sales in 2008 hit 32 million in the UK alone, making them one of the most popular gadgets owned by Brits.1 But what other personal possessions do you carry around on a daily basis and how much are they worth?

Tescocompare.com, the financial search engine, urges Brits to take a closer look at what is hiding in their bags and pockets and consider what would happen if these items were lost or stolen.

Typical possessions carried around on a day to day basis can include amongst other things; MP3 players, i-phones, camera phones, blackberries, electronic notebooks, digital cameras, expensive purses and wallets, makeup, with the average value adding up to £173 per person.2

And with over a third (37%) of all personal property thefts now affecting mobile phones or other electrical goods, Tescocompare.com advises the nation to check what personal possessions cover they have in place and make sure they are protected.

Debra Williams from Tescocompare.com, comments:
"Very few of us actually realise how much value we carry around in our bags or on our person on a day to day basis. Its only ever when it is too late and we come to add up our losses and realise how expensive the personal possession we carry around daily really are. We would urge all home insurance customers to double check their policies and ensure they are covered for personal possessions away from the home."

To compare home insurance policies and additional policy features, including personal possession cover visit www.tescocompare.com

For more information, please contact:
Liz Willder
Tesco Compare
01737 776 826 / 07825 115 983
liz.willder@tescopf.com

Alison Merrigan / Louise Marriott
Lansons Communications
020 7294 3634 / 020 7294 3654
tescocompare@lansons.com

Notes to Editors:
1 Research by T3.com: http://www.t3.com/news/three-quarters-of-mp3-players-sold-in-uk-are-mobiles?=37346

2 British Crime Survey 2008: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs09/personal_theft_0708.xls

Tescocompare.com offers price comparison services on the following products:

Car Insurance
Van Insurance
Home Insurance
Motorbike Insurance
Small business insurance
Life Insurance
Travel Insurance
Mortgages
Gas and Electricity suppliers
Credit Cards and loans

Tesco Compare is part of the Tesco Personal Finance Group, the financial services arm of the UK’s number one supermarket chain, which is fully owned by Tesco plc.

Tesco Personal Finance Compare Limited. Registered in Scotland No.318925. Interpoint Building, 22 Haymarket Yards, Edinburgh EH12 5BH. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.