Tech thieves preying on small firms

Crime against businesses is on the rise - with small firms in particular being targeted.

Figures from insurer AXA show crimes against businesses up 19 per cent between the second quarter of 2003 and the corresponding quarter of this year, with theft making up the lion's share - around 66 per cent of all crimes against companies.

Neil Mercier, property insurance manager at AXA, said that thieves are mostly looking for cash or for technology - PCs and laptops for example - that they can carry and convert into cash easily. "[Stealing] portable equipment has never gone out of fashion," he said.

Other mobile business equipment such as phones and PDAs is often stolen in the street as a result of mugging, he added.

However, while big businesses can afford the latest antitheft equipment money can buy, small firms often neglect to lock down their property and are more susceptible to thieves.

"Small business are the most vulnerable - they haven't spent the same time, money and effort" as big businesses, Mercier said. "If you're IT-dependent and you lose your computer and your computer records, it's very difficult to stay in business."

Companies located in Bradford should be the most wary - the city has the most claims across the country. The second most crime-affected city, according to AXA, is Birmingham, which is followed by Nottingham.