The Reporter

The Reporter

No one is safeIt just shows it can happen to anyone. It emerged this week that Andy Hornby, the boss of banking giant HBOS - which owns the Halifax - has had his bank accounts raided by a thief who stole his identity. The crook is said to have made off with at least £7,000 in one day after getting hold of one of Hornby's old bank statements and using it to pose as the £1m-a-year chief executive. The Daily Mail said it was hugely embarrassing for the head of a banking group to be so lax with personal information that someone was able to steal his identity. Then again, you can shred for England but still end up getting stung by, for example, a crooked petrol station worker who clones your bank card and uses the details to rack up bills overseas.

A boom! This week also brought news that the housing market downturn is forcing increasing numbers of homeowners to rent out their property because they are unable to sell it. The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors says instructions to let properties have increased at their fastest pace since its survey began. It attributed the jump to frustrated sellers opting to become landlords after being unable to sell their home in the current market.

Chip off the old block Perhaps some of these unwanted houses aren't exactly looking their best after being trashed by the owners' destructive offspring. According to Abbey's insurance arm, 2.5 million.....continued below

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of us have suffered damage to our homes as a result of our own and other people's children. It says Scottish children are likely to cause the most costly destruction. "Adults are paying out more than £552m to pay for the damage caused around the home by reckless children," says a spokesman. More than one in five of those who have suffered things like ornament breakages, ripped wallpaper and scribbled-on paintwork believe that the child deliberately caused the damage.

Dog daze It's time for some silly season nonsense. Demand for so-called "handbag dogs" is apparently soaring, thanks to the sterling example being set by some of our favourite celebs. Sainsbury's says the publicity around celebrities such as Paris Hilton, Britney Spears, Jessica Simpson and Geri Halliwell and their small pedigree pets has fuelled demand for micro-canines. Between 2006 and 2008, the number of these animals insured by the Sainsbury's pet insurance division has increased by 41%. "This includes a 417% increase in the number of chihuahuas and a 248% increase in the number of west highland white terriers." However, Sainsbury's has some "is the pope a Catholic?" advice for anyone thinking of shoving a pooch in their Louis Vuitton: "Carrying a pet in a handbag could actually become distressing for the animal."

Pet cover Sticking with our furry pals, it is being claimed that Brits value their pets' health more than their own. There are nearly twice the number of health insurance policies for pets in the UK than there are for people, says Tesco Pet Insurance, which is offering customers a 20% online discount, with a further 5% off if you insure more than one pet. The research confirms that UK pet owners are among the most caring in the world, with the largest population of insured pets after Sweden.