The number of small businesses making claims against criminal damage and arson has risen.
Crimes against small businesses have risen for the second six-month period running, according to the latest figures from Axa.
The insurance provider has revealed a 10 percent increase in recessionary crime against small companies in the UK, with the number of claims for arson and malicious damage up.
Around seven percent of business owners have fallen prey to criminals in the past six months, with reported cases of malicious damage up by 14 percent. Arson claims have increased over the same period by 23 percent, with Axa expecting this trend to continue as the recession continues to deepen.
Gregor Elrick, head of property at the insurer, said: "Both malicious damage and arson tend to go up in a recession as premises are left unoccupied and unprotected by failed businesses, making them easier targets for vandals.
"Additionally, arson committed by business owners looking to claim on their insurance can rise in recessionary times."
"We are really not surprised to see these numbers in the current economic climate and we fully expect to see them continue to rise throughout 2009," he added.
Regional analysis of the figures found that Birmingham had the highest number of business crimes in 2008, with regions including south-west London, Sheffield and Manchester joining the top ten.
