Spanish police have mocked Brits for leaving countless items on a popular city beach,causing the force to jokingly claim that they needed to hire a brand new officer dedicated to retrieving lost and found items.
Benidorm is renowned for its notorious “strip” lined with bars and clubs as well as the warm weather and sandy beaches. While holidaymakers are busy soaking up the Spanish sun, they may actually come home with a lighter suitcase than the one they left with.
Benidorm Policia Local has poked fun at forgetful British tourists by announcing a brand new officer, Saint Cucuphas, patron of lost things.
“Have you lost something in our city?,” the Facebook post reads.
“You’re in luck, we’ve hired Saint Cucuphas.”
Spaniards pray to the martyr when they have lost something, tying knots in a handkerchief to represent his testicles.
Leading up to his death, Saint Cucuphas was tortured and had his testicles tied.
Now, whenever Spaniards lose something, they say this rhyme: “Saint Cucuphas, Saint Cucuphas your testicles I tie, and until you find my (lost belonging) I will not untie them”.
In a stab at British tourists the facebook post shows a picture of a British passport, one of the many items holidaymakers lose on nights out or on the beach.
The Benidorm’s Policia Local lost and found department manages over 3,000 items every year with Spain ranking as the top destination in which holidaymakers most commonly lost their belongings.
A whopping 80% of people lose, forget or have something stolen when they go on holiday, and only 40% of people get their items back, according to a eShores survey.
On average, people in the UK lose £55 worth of personal belongings per holiday with women most likely to lose their sunglasses and men most likely to lose their camera.
Scottish residents are more likely than anywhere else to lose jewellery on holiday, whilst those living in the South West were more likely to lose their clothing but are the least likely UK place to lose their sunglasses.