Holidaymakers advised to report thefts to local police

British holidaymakers estimate that they have had up to £1.7 billion worth of personal possessions stolen from them whilst on holiday abroad, over the last five years, according to new research from Sainsbury's Travel Insurance.

The bank's research reveals that around 5.1 million British adults (11%) claim to have been the victim of theft whilst holidaying abroad in the past five years and the estimated average value of lost possessions was £326. Some 240,000 people had over £1,000 worth of valuables taken, while 24,000 victims estimated their loss at over £5,000.

Interestingly, men appear to be more likely victims of theft than women with 2.9 million men (13%) saying that they'd had items stolen during their foreign holiday in the past five years, compared to 2.2 million women (9%).

The most common form of theft is pick-pocketing, with the survey indicating 1.1 million people have been victims of. This is followed by theft from a car (855,000 people) and bag snatching (805,000 people). But public spaces aren't the only target for thieves, as 752,000 of those surveyed had items stolen from their hotel room or villa.

In terms of the possessions taken, just over a third (35%) of victims, or 1.8 million people, had cash taken, while just over a quarter (28%), or 1.4 million people, had their whole wallet stolen. Cameras are also popular items for thieving fingers, with 756,000 people saying that they had theirs stolen. Of those suffering larger losses, 171,000 people had a car or motorbike stolen from them while abroad and 257,000 had their luggage taken.

Scott Gorman, Sainsbury's Travel Insurance Manager, said: "When holidaying, people take their most valuable possessions with them, such as their camera, passport, going-out jewellery, mobile phone, iPod, and of course their spending money.  It's easy to be engrossed in your surroundings when in a  different country and when you're feeling relaxed you can be easily distracted, which is when you are at your most vulnerable of becoming a victim of theft.

"Sainsbury's Finance is encouraging holidaymakers to be careful and vigilant with their belongings, particularly when in popular and crowded tourist areas. Before you leave your residency, take time to think if you really need to take each item with you and consider investing in a money belt."

Worryingly, the research also shows that only half (51%) of those who had had something stolen whilst abroad in the past five years reported it to the local police.

Scott Gorman adds: "Millions of British holidaymakers are jeopardising their chances of recouping the value of the possessions they've had stolen by failing to inform the local police about the theft. This means that they cannot then make a claim on their travel insurance, potentially leaving them out of pocket by hundreds or even thousands of pounds."

To obtain a Sainsbury's Travel Insurance quote, visit sainsburysfinance.co.uk.