One in ten UK car-owners are at risk of having their identity stolen because they are failing to remove sensitive documents from their vehicle when it is not in use, a new study has found.
Utility bills and bank statements are common items left on display, according to
car insurance provider Direct Line.
Furthermore, some 12 per cent of respondents admitted to keeping more than £350 worth of valuables in their car in full view. Despite the value held inside cars, around six per cent of those interviewed conceded to forgetting to lock their vehicle.
Jennifer Culley, spokesperson for Direct Line Car Insurance comments: "Car-owners need to think twice before they lock up and walk away from their vehicles to ensure they are not leaving valuables or sensitive documents on display."
Among the most likely items to be left on display were work clothes, sports equipment and letters, bills and statements.
The Home Office advises car-owners that the majority of vehicle thefts are carried out by opportunistic thieves and can often be prevented taking simple protective measures such as ensuring valuables are hidden.
InsureandGocar insurance policies protect the value of vehicles and their contents.