British travellers are being warned to keep a watchful eye on their personal belongings when jetting abroad – as almost half say they’ve had their phones pinched on holiday.
In new research carried out by gadget insurer, Insurance2Go, a whopping 41 per cent of Brits revealed they’ve had their phones stolen while holidaying.
One fifth of respondents fell victim to phone theft in Spain, while 14 per cent had their phones swiped in France, and 10 per cent of holidaymakers have had their device snatched in Canada.
Reports of pickpockets and sophisticated phone scams in Spanish holiday hotspots, such as Benidorm, Barcelona and Tenerife, have risen over the years.
According to El País, 279,319 cellphones were reported stolen in 2014 throughout Spain – equating to a phone being robbed every two minutes.
And with millions of British travellers heading to Spain each year, there is little doubt they are disproportionately affected by phone theft.
Meanwhile, around one in ten said their phone was stolen during a trip to Italy, while nine per cent experienced similar theft in the United States.
The study showed that millennials are most at risk, with 81 per cent of thefts happening to those aged between 25 to 34.
One fifth of holidaymakers have fallen victim to phone theft in Spain, according to Insurance2Go
Of the 2,000 British adults surveyed, a fifth of holidaymakers have had their phone taken directly from their luggage.
A further eight per cent have had their device pinched from their pockets, seven per cent from tables while seated for dinner or coffee, six per cent snatched straight out of their hands, and three per cent stolen on public transport.
Men are also 15 per cent more likely to fall victim to phone theft than women, though both genders are equally vulnerable in countries like Spain.
As for reporting the crime to local authorities, more than a quarter of British holidaymakers admitted they did not take action after having their device stolen – with 19 per cent saying they didn’t due to not having insurance.
But for the remainder of respondents who did file a report, half said it was already too late and 18 per cent said they wished they had acted sooner.
According to Insurance2Go, the company has seen £1,053,420 worth of claims due to theft, with the average cost to replace an iPhone sitting at £543.
Darren Corney, phone expert at Insurance2Go, said: ‘It’s clear that holidaymakers need to be more vigilant.
‘The fact that almost one in ten had their phone taken directly from their bag or luggage highlights how opportunistic these thefts are.’
8 per cent of holidaymakers have had their device pinched from their pockets, 7 per cent from tables while seated for dinner or coffee and 6 per cent snatched straight out of their hands
He further advised: ‘Keep your phone out of sight in crowded areas, avoid leaving it in easily accessible pockets or bags and consider using anti-theft accessories like cross-body bags or phone lanyards.
‘If your phone is stolen, report it immediately as delays can reduce the chances of recovery.
‘Before you travel, check your insurance cover.
‘Over the past three years, we have received more than 15,000 claims for stolen Apple iPhones alone, showing just how common and costly this issue can be.’
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Nearly half of Brits have their phones stolen on holiday – here’s where it happens most and how to avoid it
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