Nobody can be prouder than when they take out their child or grandchild for the first time in their pram. Off you go down the road, being stopped every few yards by well-wishers and curious neighbours. You are as pleased as Punch and full of paternal or maternal pride. Unfortunately, such attention can detract from looking after your belongings. Your preoccupation with the baby removes all concepts of protecting them.

The idea that by having insurance you somehow subconsciously ignore such protection is tenuous to say the least. People who have insurance for mobile phones for instance still generally take precautions. However, sometimes it is preoccupation with other things that can lead to a momentary lack of attention that leads to loss. This is unfortunately where opportunist thieves take advantage.

A few months ago, we celebrated when my youngest daughter had a baby girl. We went through all the things that happen when these events take place. My daughter almost wore out a pair of shoes walking for miles with her newly acquired pram! Unfortunately for her, her joy was short lived.

She went one day to her local shop. It was one of those minimarkets where they had three or four tills. Baby was crying incessantly and she wanted to buy some items and get home quickly. Her purse was at the bottom of her bag, so she had to take everything out to find it. She paid for the shopping and went home.

Shortly afterwards she could not find her mobile phone! She looked high and low. The last place she had it was when she went out. She remembered taking it out of her bag whilst looking for her purse. She had left it at the shop!

She went back later but they did not have it. It had not been handed in. Someone had picked it up and taken it!

Thankfully, there is insurance for mobile phones that covers this eventuality and after one call she was reassured that her handset would be replaced along with all of her saved numbers. It is easy to be distracted for a moment but making provision for such events really is child’s play.