Luxury mattresses, grand pianos and artworks among items stolen from five-star hotels

Mattresses, grand pianos and artworks are among the pricey items stolen from five-star hotels, with thieves going to alarming lengths to smuggle out luxury goods.

Luxury hotel and spa guide Wellness Heaven asked 1,157 hoteliers which items were most commonly stolen and were struck by the audacity of those staying at five star establishments.

Its research found televisions were nine times more likely to be stolen from five-star hotels than four-star establishments, with artworks five-and-a-half times more likely to go missing.

Luxury mattresses, coffee machines and computer tablets have also been targeted with hoteliers explaining that the former have been swiped from luxury premises in the middle of the night via lifts leading directly to underground car parks.

Another report of an audacious theft came from an Italian hotelier who said a grand piano was taken from his lobby by three men in overalls.

Across all hotel categories towels topped the list of stolen items followed by bathrobes, hangers, pens and cutlery.

The guide also analysed the most stolen items by nationality with German and British guests predictably swiping towels, bathrobes and cosmetics.

Meanwhile Austrians were accused of taking dishes and coffee machines, while Americans walked off with pillows and batteries. The survey found that Italians were partial to a wine glass, with the Swiss accused of swiping hair dryers. The French came out as the most audacious with reports of televisions and remote controls going missing.