Kitchens in houses full of valuables

Recent research has revealed that Britons are more prone to leaving their valuable personal possessions and documents in the kitchen than in any other room in the house.

According to Legal and General's Changing Face of British Homes research, 73 per cent of people in the UK leave their most important belongings lying around in the kitchen.

Some 43 per cent of people leave their keys in their kitchen, while 38 per cent place their phone or personal handheld computers in the same room.

Additionally, 25 per cent abandon their wallets or purses to the kitchen, while 16 per cent do the same with their bank statements or other documents containing personal or financial information.

The head of communications at Legal and General, Ruth Wilkins, said: "The items that people leave lying around in their kitchen make an interesting statement about the way people live their lives.

"It also raises concern about the security of those items in the home. Leaving personal, often valuable, possessions on display could increase the risk of burglary and theft."

She added: "It is so important that people store personal documents and valuables in a safe place, in case of a break in. In addition, homeowners should review their insurance to make sure they are covered, as many of the items left in the kitchen can cost a lot of money to replace."

27/09/2007 11:40:29