New research has shown that Leeds is the most likely city for businesses to be victims of crime. In this blog Anthony Neary, managing director of our security retailer shares the top 10 cities where businesses are most likely to be victims of crime, and what you can do to prevent being a victim.
Businesses hit across the UK
Leeds has the highest number of crime incidents per 1,000 people, with over 9,000 companies targeted over the past year alone. We analysed government and police data from the last 12 months and found an alarming rise in crimes against businesses, with 94% of cases going unsolved.
Across the UK, out of the 1.4 million businesses with employees, 420,000 fell victim to crime over the past year. The most common offences were theft and vandalism and nearly one in five businesses (18%) experienced one of these.
What are the top 10 cities where businesses are most likely to be victims of crime?
According to data retrieved from Crime Rate, the following cities have the highest crime rates for businesses. Crime rate is calculated per 1,000 residents based on an accumulation of offences: burglary, criminal damage, shoplifting, and other theft.
1. Leeds – 51 business crime incidents per 1,000 people
2. Hull – 43
3. Newcastle 42
4. Nottingham 41
5. Bradford – 39
6. Manchester – 38
7. Southampton 36
8. Birmingham – 36
9. Leicester – 35
10. Cardiff – 34
Leeds has experienced business crime more than any other city, with 51 incidents per 1,000 people, which means that upcoming places such as Thorpe Park will likely be considering their security measures. This figure is more than twice as high as that of nearby York (24).
The second most likely city for incidents of business crime is Hull, where there are 43 crimes for every 1,000 people. Third is Newcastle with 42 instances in the latest figures. With 41 occurrences per 1,000 people, businesses in Nottingham need to be alert as they experience crime the fourth most. Whilst slightly lower in fifth, wrongdoing is still prevalent for Bradford-based businesses, which have seen 39 crimes for every 1,000 people in the past 12 months.
Preventing business crime
Even if you are from one of the hotspots mentioned above, there is action you can take to prevent business crime. To lower risk, we’ve listed some essential advice that will help businesses protect premises:
1. Secure doors and windows
An important area to focus security measures on is entryways. Ensure strong doors are fitted and that windows are locked whenever the office is empty. Triple-glazed windows are much more likely to deter thieves as they are harder to break. For rooms with costly items use a digital door lock to add an extra layer of safety, where instead of a key, you can use a code to control access. We have a range of options on our website from famous security brands including Yale and Asec. Browse today: Digital Door Locks
2. Hide expensive items
Burglars love smaller, valuable items as these are easier to get away with unnoticed. To combat this, lockers are great for secure overnight storage, especially for hybrid working teams, as someone may leave their laptop and other equipment for the next day. Keep your business secure with our safes, available in a selection of styles and sizes. Find out more: Business and Office Safes
3. Maintain outdoor security
The most obvious way to protect a business is to have as many outdoor and noticeable deterrents as possible. CCTV, clearly visible alarms, and security lights are the three of the best features to put burglars off, as all catch them in the act, and make it obvious someone is on the premises with physical proof, which is the last thing they want. Despite that, more than a fifth of companies don’t have any measures in place, and a quarter deploy a fake alarm which is far too weak and will easily be spotted by thieves. It’s vital that employees are trained to properly use systems, as insurance providers may not pay out a claim if they fail to work.
No matter which city your business is in, take action today to protect it. Learn more about the impact of crime on businesses: What is the Cost of Crime to UK Businesses?
