1 in 10 falls victim to petty theft abroad

Around 12 per cent of British tourists have been the victims of petty crime on holiday, says a new report, highlighting

Travel Insurance News - 16/09/2005

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Around 12 per cent of British tourists have been the victims of petty crime on holiday, says a new report, highlighting the importance of travel insurance.

A further one in three Brits says that they know someone who has experienced crime while abroad.

Travel insurance will protect belongings if they are lost, damaged or stolen, which can be essential if holiday cash is taken.

According to the report, the amounts taken were quite significant, with 34 per cent of UK tourists reporting that the theft cost them £200, and one in ten losing £500.

Spain was shown to be the most likely place for an unfavourable encounter, reveals Direct Line Insurance, and the reason that 38 per cent of Brits have experienced crime there is because of the number of tourists in the country, says pollsters UGov.

France was next, followed by Italy and then Greece.

Chris Price, head of Direct Line Travel Insurance, said: '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.

'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.'

Cash was the most common item stolen abroad, and then purses, camera's jewellery and clothes added the report.

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