Ladies are more likely to steal from hotels

Women are more likely to steal from hotels than men, and the most likely object to be lifted is a towel, according to new research. More than half (54%) of the women questioned said they would swipe hotel property and stash it in their suitcases, compared with only 45% of men.

The top five items likely to go missing according to a 2,000-strong Travelodge study were towels (25%), ashtrays (15%), drinking glasses (11%), slippers (10%) and bathrobes (8%).

But light-fingered Brits appear undaunted by larger furniture too, using their entrepreneurial skills to pilfer mirrors, light fittings, carpets, door knobs, curtains and even beds.

A Travelodge spokesman said: "We all know the odd item disappears from our rooms every now and again, but carpets and curtains were definitely a surprise. On one occasion last year, we lost a TV, chair and bed from the same bedroom in Birmingham."

The study also found that Londoners were the most likely to be acquisitive, with 14.1% admitting they would trouser something on their next holiday, while South-westerners were the least likely to take anything (7.7%).