Gone in a flash: One in five leave their phone or camera unattended in public

Aviva research reveals that more than one in five people (22%) leave their phone or camera unattended in a public place to photograph or film themselves¹. Just under half (49%) leave their phone or camera unattended to capture personal memories, followed by gathering content for their social media channels (38%). Other reasons include taking photos (34%), and fitness videos (19%).
 

Gen X (45-60-years-old) are the most likely to leave phones or cameras unattended for social media content (41%), and professional content for work (25%). They were followed by Millennials (29-44-years-old) where 40% acknowledged that they would leave equipment unattended to film social media content, and 38% of Gen Z (18-28-years-old), who were distracted from their phones or cameras whilst in public.
 

Theft isn’t the only issue when leaving phones and cameras unattended – with a further quarter (25%) experiencing damage and a further 5% losing their phone or camera entirely.
 

Worryingly, the risk continues even when valuables are in a person’s possession, with just over a third of people (34%) having either dropped or had their phone or camera stolen whilst still holding it.
 

Causes of claims include2

• Accidentally dropping a camera out of an open window
• Propping up a tablet which has then slipped and fallen onto a hard floor or over a ledge
• Knocking over an entire tripod, causing damage to the attached camera or lens

Protecting valuables: top tips to share with your clients

Encourage them not to leave high-value items unattended in public
If clients are filming or photographing themselves in public, it's a good idea to take a friend or family member along who can keep an eye on their equipment, helping to reduce the risk of theft or damage. If this isn't possible, they should consider holding their phone or camera in a way that keeps it on their person, such as using it ‘selfie style’.
 

Remind them to be aware of their surroundings when filming
It's easy for people to become focused on their phone or camera and lose track of what's happening around them. Your clients should take a moment to assess their surroundings before recording and avoid becoming distracted by their screen for long periods.
 

Discuss their insurance cover needs, considering add-ons
Clients should review their insurance arrangements with you to ensure their belongings are appropriately protected. Home insurance is designed to protect a home and its contents if something unexpected goes wrong. For phones, cameras and other valuable items used away from home, optional Personal Belongings cover may be worth considering, as it can provide protection for loss, theft or accidental damage anywhere in the world.
 

Help them check single item limits
Clients should be aware that many insurance policies include a maximum claim limit for individual items. If an item is worth more than the policy's single item limit, it may need to be specified separately to ensure it's fully covered.
 

_{¹Research conducted by Censuswide, among a sample of 2,000 nationally representative consumers (18+) from 10.03.26-13.03.26}

_{²Aviva accidental damage claims specifying ‘phones’ and cameras’ from January 2022 to June 2026}