Take care: Don't let thieves spoil your festival

Festival-goers have been warned to take extra care of their valuables while they party this year. Nearly one in five festival-goers lost valuables at an event last year, often due to theft, research from insurer Allianz has shown.

Women are more likely to take adequate measures to protect their possessions, with almost half (43 per cent) saying they carry all their belongings around with them at all times. Men seem to be more trusting of their fellow revellers with a quarter leaving valuables in their tents, making them easy prey for the light-fingered.

Gareth McChesney of Allianz advises festival-goers to "check that they are covered by their household insurance or their parents' insurance before taking anything of value to a festival". But price-comparison service uSwitch warns that home insurance policies do not cover people who leave valuables in a tent.

Motor insurance policies often excluded personal possessions such iPods and mobile phones stolen from cars, or impose a high excess on any claim made.

Mr McChesney advises revellers, wherever possible, to avoid taking valuable items to this summer's music and cultural festivals.