The children falling victim to iPod muggers

One in eight children has been mugged for their MP3 players or mobile phones, a study published today reveals.

The research showed a third of the victims were listening to music on headphones, talking on a mobile, texting or playing on a games console at the time.

Home Office ministers say young people are particularly vulnerable to attack because of their tendency to carry valuable gadgets such as iPods. Home Secretary Jacqui Smith was to announce today the under-16s would be included in the Government's flagship crime figures for the first time.

It could mean children under 10 being asked if they have been victims as part of the British Crime Survey. The move is to try to gain a more comprehensive picture of offending in England-and Wales. The study, carried out by the Design Council, showed nearly half of the 1,000 children surveyed valued their property as worth between £100 and £500.

Ms Smith was today meeting designers and manufacturers to discuss how the products can be improved to minimise the risk of theft.

She said: "I want to ensure that young people are offered as much protection from crime as possible." The survey found 85 per cent of 11- to 16-year-olds carried their phone with them frequently and 35 per cent carried an MP3 player, while only six per cent said they did not own a mobile phone.

Parents of under-16s will have to give permission before their child takes part in the survey. Ms Smith added: "Extending the BCS will help us to understand better how crime affects young people and do even more to prevent it."