NEWS COPY - WITH INFOGRAPHIC - BY Corinne Homer
The average British holiday maker will be lugging a suitcase worth an astonishing £3,141 on holiday with them this summer, according to new research.
Researchers polled 2,000 holidaymakers and found they are stuffing their cases with an array of valuables when heading off to sunnier climes.
Technology and gadgets accounted for the high value with the average adult packing smartphones, digital cameras, tablets, eReaders and laptops.
Typically, the average phone comes in at £249 and the typical price of a laptop is £424.
With the latest designer sunglasses costing £167 and new holiday clothes - totalling nearly £700 - nearly half of those polled admitted the value of their suitcase has increased in the last 5-10 years.
The poll was commissioned by www.The-EasyLock.com, a portable locking system that secures a door from the inside, meaning that no one can enter your room even if they have a key.
Make-up and toiletries alone will account for £160 worth of the average Brits suitcase.
Despite the findings, a shocking 45 per cent admitted to not using the safe when staying in a hotel room.
And one in seven of the adults polled said they had been a victim of theft when abroad on holiday - with cash, jewellery, mobile phones and cameras amongst the most commonly swiped items.
With most of these thefts taking place in Spain, the study revealed.
Bob Fitzjohn, the inventor of www.The-EasyLock.com said: "As a nation we are glued to our valuable items, even when it comes to taking a holiday.
"Particularly electronics, such as iPads and mobile phones which are now seen as essentials, even when we are on the beach or around the pool.
"But when you're relaxed and having fun, it's easy to let your guard down when it comes to security, especially when in the apparent safety of our hotel rooms.
"If your belongings are worth a small fortune as this research shows, keeping the door securely locked is integral to avoid unwanted incidents."
Half of the respondents had or knew of someone who had an item stolen from their room whilst they were actually in it, with 70 per cent being either asleep, in the bathroom, or otherwise distracted when the theft took place.
And half of adults confessed they were unaware a hotel lock could be overridden by burglars even when locked from the inside.
Shockingly more than one in twenty travellers never bother to buy travel insurance before jetting off to foreign soil.
And of those that do, almost half confessed to not checking which of their belongings would be covered if they were robbed.
Bob Fitzjohn added: "Many travellers aren't aware of how simple it is for thieves to enter a room, even if it's locked.
"The public need to be aware that hotel locks can easily be overridden.
"For extra peace of mind, particularly if travelling solo, using an Easylock will go the extra mile when it comes to security."
The survey also found a haphazard 42 per cent of Brits confessed to leaving valuable items like jewellery and gadgets in plain sight when staying in hotel rooms.
COST OF A SUITCASE
Clothing and accessories (including designer) £683
Shoes £191
Handbag/briefcase £203
Laptop £424
Sunglasses £167
Digital camera £257
Make-up/toiletries £160
Mobile phone £249
Tablet/iPad £282
Electrical items £241
Other items £284
TOTAL £3,141
ENDS
WHAT DO YOU RISK ON HOLIDAY - NEWS COPY
