Useful tips on how to avoid handbag theft. New research of more than one thousand women in the UK shows that the spot-on-trend of ‘super-sized’ handbags is posing a safety hazard to female motorists, owing to the distractions caused by this bulky accessory.

The research shows that women spend on average 416 hours of their lifetime (2,5 weeks) rifling through their handbags in search of ‘buried’ car keys*.  

“One-third of female motorists surveyed said they felt ‘panicked and anxious’ about not being able to locate their keys quickly enough when close to their cars, especially when alone or at night,” says Robyn Farrell, managing director of 1st for Women Insurance Brokers, South Africa’s only female insurer.  

Forty-one per cent of respondents said the feeling that they were being followed to their cars when walking alone was heightened if they could not immediately find their car keys in their large handbags.

A woman carries her life in her handbag

“Having one’s handbag stolen very often translates into weeks of costly and time-consuming admin, which one can ill afford,” says Farrell. “It is barely an exaggeration to say that a woman carries her life in her handbag, and insuring the contents of a handbag is extremely prudent.

Handbag insurance a must-have item for peace of mind

The prevalence of theft across South Africa makes insurance against handbag theft a "must have". 1st for Women offers such handbag insurance (to the value of R3 500,00) with every home contents insurance policy.

Farrell maintains that two of the most important things a woman can do to improve her safety is to stay aware of her surroundings and to avoid potentially dangerous situations.  

“If your attention is elsewhere because you are speaking on your cellphone or listening to your MP3 player, or searching for your keys in your handbag, you will be less aware of potential danger,” says Farrell.
 
1st for Women offers tips on how to avoid having your handbag stolen:

•    Always keep your keys in the same secure spot in your handbag, such as a side pocket or easily accessible key purse.
•    Park in well-lit spaces, both on the street and in a parking lot.
•    Locate your keys and have them in your hand before approaching your car.
•    Park as close as possible to the entrance or exit of a building to avoid having to walk alone for too long.
•    Don’t park beside pillars, stairwells or anywhere a person could potentially hide.
•    Remain aware during the day, as many bag-snatching incidents take place during daylight hours.
•    Keep your handbag hidden while driving – lock it in the boot of your car.

“Lastly, it is extremely upsetting having possessions forcibly taken from you, but it becomes far worse when you can’t quite remember what exactly was stolen. It is vital that you ensure that you have all this information documented in a safe place,” concludes Farrell.