Birmingham business crime soaring

Mar 30 2009 by Alun Thorne, Birmingham Post

Business crime in Birmingham has risen by more than a third in the past six months with the city experiencing more incidents than anywhere else in the UK.

According to a new report, businesses within the B postcode area saw incidents rise by 35 per cent, with the biggest increase in so-called ‘recessionay crimes’ such as malicious damage, arson, forcible theft and and breaking and entering.

Telford, in Shropshire, however was at the other end of the scale with the lowest number of recorded crimes against businesses alongside Lincoln and Harrogate, according to the Business Crime Index from insurer AXA.

Other hotspots include Northampton, Guildford, Leeds, Leicester and south east, east and west London.