According to its designers, the UK-based technology firm Cambridge Consultants, DropTag is a device that can be attached to any suitcase, package, or piece of sporting or musical equipment.

It contains a motion sensor which can recognise when an item of luggage is dropped or handled without care – when this happens, a warning is sent to the owner’s mobile phone.

“The device is entirely configurable,” said Tom Lawrie-Fussey, business development manager at Cambridge Consultants. “It’s very sensitive, and can even detect ambient noise, but has adjustable thresholds – the user can decide whether they want to track general movement, catastrophic drops, or something in between.”

Although similar devices can be found on the market, they are either “crude and purely mechanical” or “hugely complex and expensive”, according to Mr Lawrie-Fussey, who said the device – if given backing – could eventually be sold in high street shops for around £5.

He added that a patent had been granted for DropTag, but said commercial development would only come if investment is secured.