UK Travel Insurance News

Wednesday, September 14, 2005

 

Spain tops theft hotspots for Brits on holiday

According to new research from Direct Line Travel Insurance, more than one in ten British holidaymakers (12%) have experienced petty theft overseas and a further 27 per cent know someone who has fallen victim to this crime.

Spain has the highest number of thefts overall, as 38% of Britons who have experienced this crime abroad recently have done so in Spain, followed by France (14%), Italy (7%) and Greece (5%).

Money is the most frequently stolen possession, followed by purses and wallets then cameras. Jewellery and clothes are also among the top targets. According to respondents, theft from empty hotel rooms is the most common method employed by thieves, although 13% of victims have faced the ordeal of being mugged or pick pocketed on the street. A further 5% have had their possessions stolen while enjoying themselves in a bar or restaurant.

And the financial cost of petty theft can be considerable, with more than a third of losses in excess of £200, and one in ten costing the victim more than £500.

But it also has an emotional impact with one in six saying their holiday was ruined as a result of the theft. Almost a fifth of victims of petty theft questioned found themselves unable to relax and enjoy themselves and close to a quarter said they felt vulnerable afterwards.

However, British holidaymakers are taking steps to protect themselves against such crimes. 84% take out travel insurance and more than half (51%) secure their valuables by locking them away in the hotel safe. A further 22% take travellers cheques away with them rather than cash.

Chris Price, head of Direct Line Travel Insurance, commented: "For many people the summer holiday is their largest annual purchase, but it can be ruined by the theft of comparatively small sums or items. People can fall prey to petty theft in their everyday lives, but when it happens on holiday, in an unfamiliar environment and when people are looking to relax, the event can be all the more traumatic. We would advise all holidaymakers to protect themselves by taking simple, sensible precautions and by making sure they are insured against any loses in case the worst happens."

Top Tips to avoid petty theft abroad:
1. Take out comprehensive travel insurance cover
2. Use switch, credit card and/or travellers cheques instead of carrying cash around
3. Keep valuables and important documents in the room or hotel safe
4. Report theft to the local police and get a police statement to validate the claim
5. Don't flaunt expensive jewellery or technology e.g. digital cameras
6. Keep belongings close by at all times
7. Never leave belongings on the beach when swimming
8. Beware of pickpockets in crowded areas

posted by UK Insurance Index  @ 12:20 PM

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