According to the latest government statistics, more than a quarter (26%) of businesses in England and Wales were the victim of some form of crime in the last year. It’s almost impossible to completely eliminate the threat of crime against your business. However, there are things you can do to reduce your chances of being a victim of crime.
The team at money.co.uk business insurance have revealed the most common crimes committed against businesses and how to protect yourself, including the necessary business insurance coverage.
The most common crime committed against businesses is theft
With crime against businesses being so common, it’s vital for business owners to be aware of the issues they might face and prepare to deal with them. This starts with knowing which types of crime you’re most likely to be at risk of.
Most common crimes experienced by businesses
| Rank | Type of crime | Proportion of business premises that experienced crime in the previous 12 months (2023) |
| 1 | All theft | 14% |
| 2 | Vandalism | 8% |
| 2 | All burglary (incl. attempts) | 8% |
| 4 | Assault or threat | 7% |
| 5 | All fraud | 4% |
| 6 | All vehicle-related theft | 3% |
| 7 | All robbery | 2% |
Theft
Theft was the most common crime committed against businesses in the last 12 months, with almost one in six (14%) of companies reporting being targeted by thieves. Most of this was customer theft, which was experienced 
by 10% of businesses.
Food and groceries (20%) were the most commonly stolen goods, followed by unpaid services (13%) and clothing (11%). Therefore, it’s particularly important for any businesses that stock these kinds of items to take precautions and put contingency plans in place to prevent theft from financially destabilising their business.
Vandalism
Vandalism was the second most common type of crime committed against businesses, with 8% of enterprises experiencing this issue in the last year. Vandalism can have a significant impact on your business’s profits, as it can deter potential customers from entering your shop, as well as being costly to repair or rectify. There are strategies you can use to deter vandals, including CCTV and anti-vandal paint.
All burglary
In joint second place, alongside vandalism, was burglary, with 8% of businesses also experiencing this type of crime in the last year. Of those who experienced burglary, just over a third of businesses (36%) experienced it just once in the last 12 months, while around one in six businesses (16%) experienced it at least once a week. Burglaries are extremely distressing to business owners, employees, and customers, as well as detrimental to profits.
The wholesale and retail industry suffered from more crime than any other industry
Some industries are targeted by criminals more often than others, and as a result, are at an even greater risk of lost profits and need for protection strategies. Below are the industries that are most frequently affected by crime.
The industries that experienced the most crime
| Rank | Industry | Proportion of business premises that experienced crime in the previous 12 months (2023) |
| 1 | Wholesale and retail | 41% |
| 2 | Transport, accommodation, and food | 32% |
| 2 | Primary and utilities | 32% |
| 4 | Other services | 28% |
| 5 | Construction | 26% |
| 6 | Manufacturing | 22% |
| 7 | Business services | 17% |
| 8 | Information and financial services | 15% |
Wholesale and retail
Wholesale and retail businesses were in first place, with over two-fifths (41%) of businesses in this industry experiencing crime in the last 12 months. Despite a minute decrease of 1% compared to 2022, this is the second year running that the sector has been the worst affected by crime. Reasons for the industry’s high crime rate include the accessibility of its premises to the public and the high value or demand of stocked items.
Transport, accommodation, and food
Transport, accommodation, and food took second place, with around a third (32%) of businesses in this industry being victimised in the last 12 months. Similarly to the wholesale and retail industry, the accessibility of its premises to the public could be why this sector is so frequently targeted. This sector also faces the additional challenge of frequently rising costs which can push more potential customers to consider petty, cost-saving thefts like not purchasing rail tickets, contributing to the high overall crime rate.
Primary and utilities
Second place was shared by primary and utility businesses, with 32% of enterprises in this industry also experiencing crime in the last year. Businesses in this sector experienced a 6% increase in crime, the largest increase of any industry compared to the year before. The primary and utilities sector provides living essentials to homes and businesses, including electricity and water. With the rising costs of these basic necessities, fraudsters could be looking for ways to avoid paying.
Padlocks and door locks are the most common methods of prevention
Putting security measures in place to minimise the risk and impact of crime is paramount. Here are the tactics most commonly used by businesses –
The most common prevention measures
| Rank | Prevention measure | Proportion of premises using measure |
| 1 | Padlocks or door locks | 81% |
| 2 | Burglar alarm | 73% |
| 2 | Vehicle alarm | 73% |
| 4 | Security window or door locks | 72% |
| 5 | Security lighting, including sensor/timed lights | 64% |
| 6 | CCTV looking at the road or grounds outside | 61% |
| 7 | Vehicle immobiliser | 60% |
| 8 | Alarm system or panic button for stock | 58% |
| 9 | Inside security cameras, lighting, or mirrors | 57% |
| 10 | Vehicle tracking system | 52% |
| 11 | A secure workshop or storeroom for valuable items | 50% |
Padlocks or door locks
Padlocks and door locks are the most common preventive measures used by four out of five businesses (81%). They are small, cheap, and convenient, but, despite their popularity, you shouldn’t solely rely on these measures to protect your business premises. They don’t offer the best level of security as they can often be easily broken by burglars or even bypassed by using alternative methods of entry, such as a window. You should combine locks with alarms, CCTV, and security lighting to maximise your protection.
Burglar alarm
The second most common method of prevention is a burglar alarm, which is used by almost three-quarters of 
businesses (73%). They work by sounding a loud alarm when an intruder breaks in and can be particularly effective at scaring off burglars and alerting the police or nearby neighbours. The risk of getting caught is often enough to deter most thieves.
Vehicle alarm
In joint second place are vehicle alarms, also used by almost three-quarters of businesses (73%). Vehicle alarms work similarly to burglar alarms, sounding a loud alarm when an intruder attempts to break in. For businesses that require regular travel, your vehicle is the backbone of your enterprise, so protecting it against theft is vital for your success. This is also particularly important for car dealerships whose profits depend on these high-value and frequently-targeted assets.
Employee theft is on the rise, with more than 6,500 incidents reported last year
Unfortunately for business owners, theft from employees is another risk to consider, in addition to theft from members of the public – particularly as employee theft is on the rise, though still below the figures seen in 2018/19.
Cases of employee theft in the last five years
| Year | Theft by an employee offences in England and Wales |
| 2018/19 | 9,893 |
| 2019/20 | 8,943 |
| 2020/21 | 5,144 |
| 2021/22 | 5,633 |
| 2022/23 | 6,558 |
Between 2022 and 2023, there were 6,558 cases of employee theft, a 16% increase from the previous year when there were 5,633 cases. This followed a dip in reported thefts during 2020-21 after even higher levels in previous years. This is likely due to widespread homeworking during the pandemic, reducing opportunities for employees to commit this type of crime.
With many workers returning to the office and employee thefts on the rise again, the data shows that IT equipment accounted for one in five (21%) of theft-related incidents – an increase of 227% from the year before. Cash from customer accounts, which accounted for around one in six (16%) of theft-related incidents, has also increased by almost a third (27%).1
Dishonest actions by employees in the workplace have increased by more than a third
Internal crime can be a major threat to your business, reducing profits, efficiency, and trust. So, what types of offences are employees committing? And how can you prevent them?
Employee offences2
Dishonest Actions
Dishonest actions have increased by more than a third (35%) compared to 2022, including theft and misuse of facilities. Figures show that employees aged between 21 and 30 years old are most likely to commit this type of offence. Individuals in employment for more than 10 years are also highly likely to commit this offence, making up almost a quarter (23%) of cases. This could be due to long-term employees becoming disgruntled with their career development or due to them gaining a deep insight into company finances and procedures during their long time of employment.
False Application
False Application relates to knowingly lying on your CV when applying for a job, such as fabricating qualification, experience, or reference details to help land the role. Almost half of individuals committing this offence are between the ages of 21 and 30 (49%). Around half of the cases recorded related to concealed adverse credit history (49%), while a quarter related to concealed employment history (25%)
Unlawful obtaining or disclosure of personal data
In the last year, there has been an increase of more than a third (36%) in employees obtaining or disclosing personal data unlawfully. This includes retaining personal data, including email addresses, phone numbers, addresses, and other sensitive information without the consent of the person and/or your employer. Once again, the most common age range of individuals committing this offence was 21 to 30-year-olds, accounting for just over half of all cases (53%).
Four expert tips on protecting your business against crime
Kyle Eaton, money.co.uk business insurance expert, offers his advice on how to protect your business:
- Prevention measures
“It’s not possible to eliminate the threat of crime against your business completely, but it’s important to do as much as you can to minimise the risk. Securing the premises with locks, limiting access to management staff you can trust, and installing alarms and bright lighting are some of the basic methods you can easily put in place to deter criminals.
- Buy business insurance
“Business insurance can help mitigate the financial losses associated with being a victim of crime. It can protect you from everyday risks, mistakes, stock losses, premises damage, and legal costs to give you the confidence and financial stability to overcome crime. To protect your company against financial losses, you should look to get a policy that covers the specific risks your business might face. This may mean bundling several business insurance policies together.
- Keep data secure
“Online transactions and handling sensitive customer data have become the norm in modern businesses, making cybercrime a huge threat to your enterprise and customers. Invest in commercial firewall software, install antivirus security software on company computers, and educate your employees to reduce the threat of cybercrime.
- Prevent employee theft
“Employee crime can often be overlooked as a risk, but it can be just as detrimental to your business – if not more – due to increased access to sensitive business information and finances. To reduce the threat of employee theft, you should keep a careful record of business finances, put in place clear policies on employee crime, and educate your employees on what to do if they see something suspicious.
“If your business is a victim of crime, make sure you report it to the police – as well as Action Fraud for any fraud incidents – and your insurance company, who can support you in handling the situation. You should provide as much detail as possible to help catch the criminals and support your claim, such as taking pictures of any damage and supplying inventory documentation for any stolen items or money.”
