British holidaymakers are being urged to heighten their vigilance over personal belongings after alarming new research revealed that a staggering 41% have fallen victim to phone theft while abroad.
Holiday Hotspots for Phone Theft
The study, conducted by gadget insurer Insurance2Go, surveyed 2,000 UK adults and pinpointed the countries where devices are most frequently snatched. Spain emerged as the highest-risk destination, with one in five respondents reporting a phone stolen there. France followed at 14%, with Canada and Italy both at 10%, and the United States at 9%.
Reports of pickpocketing and sophisticated scams in popular Spanish resorts like Benidorm, Barcelona, and Tenerife have escalated in recent years. Data from Spanish newspaper El País underscores the scale of the problem, showing that 279,319 mobile phones were reported stolen in Spain in 2014 alone – equating to one phone being taken every two minutes.
How and Where Thefts Happen
The research sheds light on the opportunistic methods used by thieves. A concerning 20% of victims had their phone taken directly from their luggage. Other common scenarios included theft from pockets (8%), from cafe or restaurant tables (7%), snatched directly from the victim's hands (6%), and on public transport (3%).
Millennials, aged 25-34, were found to be the most vulnerable group, accounting for 81% of all thefts. Men were also 15% more likely to be targeted than women, though both genders face equal risk in countries like Spain.
The Cost of Crime and Reporting Failures
The financial impact is significant. Insurance2Go has processed over £1 million in theft claims, with the average cost to replace an iPhone standing at £543. Over the past three years, the firm has received more than 15,000 claims for stolen Apple iPhones alone.
Despite the high incidence, more than a quarter of British holidaymakers admitted they did not report the crime to local authorities. 19% said a lack of insurance was the reason for not filing a report. Of those who did report it, half said it was already too late for action, and 18% regretted not acting sooner.
Darren Corney, a phone expert at Insurance2Go, advised travellers to take proactive steps. "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," he said.
He emphasised the importance of immediate reporting and checking insurance cover before departure. "The fact that almost one in ten had their phone taken directly from their bag highlights how opportunistic these thefts are. Delays can reduce the chances of recovery," Corney added.
