Beach robbery: Criminals are estimated to have stolen £438m worth of abandoned items last year in a wave of coastal crime

Anyone planning to sunbathe on a beach should be wary of thieves, according to insurer Churchill, with 2.7 million people losing items worth a total of £438m last year.

Churchill said another 4.2 million people have admitted to losing personal possessions while on the beach by 2023, representing a further loss of £457m.

As many people flock to the beaches during the summer holidays, it is essential to keep your personal belongings safe.

However, for some Britons heading to the beach, this doesn’t seem to be a priority, with 1.4 million people leaving their valuables unattended and out of sight.

People aged 18 to 34 tend to be the least security-conscious: 6 per cent admit to leaving their valuables unattended, compared to just 2 per cent of those aged 55 and over.

To protect themselves from theft while at the beach, some beachgoers are now looking for creative ways to reduce the risk of theft or loss.

Wrapping items in clothing or a towel is the most popular method for half of us (48 percent), while 15 percent use secret hiding places like fake sunscreen bottles.

An additional 12 percent have even been known to wrap their valuables in a diaper, a “hack” that has exploded on social media platforms this year.

While 9 per cent admit to leaving items unattended but in plain sight, some Britons directly trust strangers to look after their belongings on the beach, and 4 per cent ask lifeguards for help.

Some are very safety conscious and rely on places they consider “safe” when visiting the beach.

One fifth simply leave their valuables at home, 16 percent in the car and 6 percent in a locker.

More than a quarter make sure other members of the group look after their valuables when they are not present and 6 per cent even keep their belongings in a dry bag so they can swim with them.

Sunglasses are the most common item lost or stolen on the beach, with 1.6 million Brits saying they have lost a pair and 1.2 million believing they have had one stolen.

Other common items that are lost or stolen include mobile phones, house keys and wallets.

One per cent of Britons also admit to losing their wedding or engagement rings on the beach.

When items were lost or stolen, nearly half searched the surrounding area, 23 percent filed a police report, 12 percent filed an insurance claim and a third said they did nothing.

Maria Lawrence, from Churchill, said: ‘It would be best to leave your valuables at home, especially if you are going in and out of the sea.

‘But if you need to take them to the beach, it is advisable not to leave them unattended.

‘If you need to take your belongings out of the house, you should check that this is covered by your policy. But you need to be very careful with them to avoid loss and theft.’