7.2 million British holidaymakers have had over £2.7 billion worth of items stolen while holidaying abroad in the past five years according to new research from Halifax Travel Insurance. The average value of items stolen was £375. However, £1.5 billion worth of the items, could not be claimed for as the victim either had insufficient travel insurance cover or did not have a policy at all.

Despite 80% of travellers knowing they needed a crime number or report to claim the amount back from their insurance company, one in four victims (25%) did not bother reporting the incident to foreign police.

According to the survey, almost a third of all thefts happened in the holidaymakers' accommodation, with money the most likely item to have been stolen. Clothes, jewellery and credit cards were also popular items for thieves to filch.

The majority (48%) of holiday thefts take place in Southern Europe. 18% occur in Western Europe and 9% in Eastern Europe. Africa (7%) and Asia (6%) complete the top five crime hotspots. Interestingly Northern America only accounts for 5% and Northern Europe 1%.

A quarter of all Brits who were victims of the holiday thefts said the incident had ruined their holidays with one in 10 saying the experience was so disturbing, they would not return to that country.

Paul Birkhead of Halifax Travel Insurance said: "Prevention is better than cure - holidaymakers should always use a safe where there is one available and take care not flash their cash or jewellery. Vast amounts of time, money and heartache can be saved by remembering to take simple safety steps."

While you can minimise the risks of being a victim of theft you can never eliminate them, which is why having travel insurance is so important when you are abroad. Halifax Travel Insurance’s research underlines not only the importance of having travel insurance, but of having adequate travel insurance that will cover the full amount of the goods taken abroad. Single item and upper limits apply to travel insurance policies and holidaymakers need to do their research. Indeed some 3.9 million holidaymakers have had a theft claim refused because the items weren’t covered by the policy.