Highway robbery

The Foreign and Commonwealth office is issuing a warning to caravan and motorhome owners after 'motorway mugging' or 'highway piracy' events have begun to increase.

Brits driving abroad are being targetted by criminals who waylay motorists in order to steal their holiday possessions.

David Andrews, from Brighton, who was driving through Spain, said: "My car tyres were slit while I was filling up at a petrol station and when my car rolled to a stop a couple of miles later I was robbed while I was underneath the car replacing a tyre."

The Foreign and Commonwealth office is urging holidaymakers to be on their guard on unfamiliar roads, especially if they become lost. Motorists need their registration and driving licence details (photocopies) as well as their breakdown cover details packed in their luggage. It is additionally worth having emergency numbers programmed on to mobile phones. Details of a local consul may be necessary in a country where language difficulties may make dealing with local emergency help quite complicated.

Pamela Deegan, vice-consul in Lille, France, adds: "A lot of people think that it's not worth taking out travel insurance just for a day trip, but if you fall ill or injure yourself abroad and require medical treatment it can be extremely costly if you don’t have insurance. Additionally, if you are on medication it’s important to pack extra in case your train or boat home is delayed."

08/07/2008 17:06:11