Private Clients: high value handbag theft guidance

High‑value handbags can be an attractive target for thieves, particularly in higher‑value homes, not only for their portability but also for their strong resale demand. To support your conversations with your high-net-worth clients, we’ve gathered practical guidance and insights to help them understand the risks, protect their collections and make sure their cover reflects true value.

Why handbags are now highly theft-attractive

A growing number of high value theft claims now feature luxury handbags - not necessarily because they're the primary target, but because of where they tend to be stored and how intruders behave once inside a home.

As Stephen Wilkinson, Head of Risk Management (South), explains: “In many homes, safes are kept in the dressing room, so that’s exactly where thieves head first. They’re usually targeting jewellery, and the dressing room is often where the safe - and a collection of handbags and other couture accessories - are stored. This creates the perfect opportunity for high value handbags to become an effortless and highly attractive secondary target.” 

Once thieves reach the dressing room, handbags from brands such as Hermès, Chanel and Louis Vuitton offer exceptional resale value, strong demand and easy portability, making them a natural part of the loss. Thieves will also use handbags to remove other stolen items; for example, filling a Hermès Birkin with jewellery, silver and other small valuables as they exit the property.

Adding to the risk, the growth of pre-owned luxury platforms means handbags can be quickly liquidated with limited checks on original ownership, making them even more appealing to organised criminals.

Handbags are frequently underinsured - and increasingly costly to replace

Insights from Helen Doyle, Handbag specialist at Doerr Dallas Valuations, show that luxury handbags increasingly behave like investment assets:

• Some brands raise prices once or twice a year which means the price a client originally paid can become outdated very quickly.
• In the secondary market, certain classic models often resell above their original retail price.
• Limited production, waiting lists and discontinued lines make like-for-like replacements challenging or impossible.

This creates two major issues: underinsurance and replacement challenges. Maintaining up to date valuations and specifying high value items are crucial to making sure clients have accurate protection.

Clients should store boxes, tags and dust covers separately

Handbags accompanied by authenticity cards, branded boxes, dust covers, receipts or tags are significantly more appealing to thieves because these accessories make resale faster, easier and more profitable. Encourage your clients to store these items separately from the handbag. Doing so disrupts criminal resale routes and materially reduces resale value.

Why we need visibility of handbag concentrations

Many clients hold multiple high-value handbags, and the combined value can be significant. In fact, in 2025 we saw multiple claims where the total handbag collection stolen was valued at over £100,000, highlighting the importance of understanding concentrations and cover levels.¹

Having visibility of these concentrations allows us to:

• Identify valuation gaps
• Provide tailored risk management advice
• Recommend security improvements where appropriate
• Make sure policy coverage reflects true exposure

The aim is simple: to make sure clients are properly protected - not to make claims more difficult.

Our work on enhanced theft prevention solutions

We're actively exploring technology-led theft prevention and recovery options for high value personal items. This includes reviewing solutions from specialist partners offering:

• Professional recovery services
• Advanced tracking technology
• Tools designed specifically for luxury item theft

We'll share further updates as this proposition develops.

If your client needs to make a claim – we’ll be on hand to help

If a handbag is lost or stolen, we aim to make the claims journey as smooth as possible. To help us progress the claim quickly, clients may be asked for:

• Proof of ownership (photos, receipts, authentication documents)
• Proof of value (recent valuations strongly recommended)
• Security details and the circumstances of the loss

Claims are settled based on replacement value rather than the original purchase price, so it’s important to make sure valuations are kept up to date to avoid underinsurance.

If a loss does occur, our claims teams will guide clients through each step and work with them to find the best possible outcome.

Why valuations matter more than ever

Valuations for handbags and other high-value luxury items are essential with prices changing rapidly. They provide accurate, up to date values, evidence of ownership and could lead to stronger, faster claim settlement outcomes Valuations are often more affordable than clients expect, and can be the difference between receiving the correct replacement value and being left disappointed.

Need support with a client or scenario?

Please contact your usual underwriting contact for assistance with reviewing handbag concentrations and valuation guidance. They'll be able to help with risk management recommendations and theft prevention options.

_{1 Aviva Private Client Claims Data 2026}