Employee crime wave hits businesses as recession bites

Workers in England and Wales carried out almost 1000 crimes a day against employers last year, according to police figures published today.

Incidents of shoplifting from offices and other workplaces increased by almost 10% in 2008. The 320,846 offences recorded were more than at any other time in the last decade.

Over the past four years, theft of business property has increased by nearly a fifth, taking the total number of offences against business which were recorded by the police last year to just over 345,000.

Shadow Home Secretary, Chris Grayling said the recession had boosted crime levels and called for more police protection.

He said: "The figures for business crime are particularly alarming at a time of recession when jobs are under threat.

"The current problems that small businesses in particular are experiencing mean it's important that they get proper protection against the threat of crime. We need police to be as responsive to the needs of local businesses as to those of local residents."