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Is your ipod, laptop or mobile phone insured when you're out and about? Should you consider 'bolt-on' insurance for possessions away from the home?

With mobile phones a must-have of modern life, laptop sales rocketing, and Apple celebrating 100 million ipod sales, it is easy to find yourself walking around unwittingly with over £1,000 worth of personal possessions.

Price comparison website www.moneysupermarket.com is warning consumers that home contents policies do not generally cover valuable possessions away from the home, unless you buy the extra cover needed as a bolt-on option to your existing policy.

Richard Mason, managing director at moneysupermarket.com, said: "It's essential for people to consider when carrying expensive items, such as a laptop or MP3 player, additional cover on top of their standard home contents insurance. Jewellery, ipods, mobiles and laptops are particularly at risk because they are visible to any opportunist thief."

The key is to make sure any add-ons to your insurance not only cover the cost of your gadget, but also any extra money you have spent, such as downloading your favourite music.

You should contact your insurer to check what is offered on your existing policy and think carefully about extending this cover for your portable valuables.

The following table shows the top ten home contents insurance policies (based on £30,000 contents cover, including £2,500 of personal possessions bolt-on cover):

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