Car break-ins have increased as more of Britain’s motorists claim to have become victims, new research has revealed.

Research conducted by insurer LV= has revealed that male motorists are more likely to become victims of car break-ins than females.

Motorists leave valuables worth an average value of £380 in their vehicles.

The increase in crime rates relating to car break-ins are due to the 80 per cent of motorists who admit leaving valuables such as mobile phones and wallets in their vehicles.

The study found that males are less safety conscious than that of women and tend to leave higher value goods visible in the vehicle.

Spokesperson for LV= Car Insurance, Emma Holyer said that there is "a casual attitude amongst motorists when it comes to leaving their belongings in their car. The fact is that most car break-ins are by opportunist thieves who would probably not bother to break into the car if it looked as though it didn't contain anything to steal."

LV= Car Insurance advised motorists to ensure they have adequate protection under the circumstances.

However, drivers are urged to prevent the situation from occurring by not leaving valuables in their vehicles.

She said: "Some car insurance policies will cover contents so motorists should ensure they have this cover so that if the worst happens they are not out of pocket…however, to avoid the hassle of having your car broken into, we'd advise people not to leave any visible valuables in their car in the first place, as this will massively reduce the likelihood of any break in."