Fifth of small businesses experience vehicle crime

Nearly one in five small businesses in the UK have experienced vehicle crime, according to new research from small business insurer Zurich.

Nearly one in five small businesses in the UK have experienced vehicle crime, according to new research from small business insurer Zurich.

Of those who were the unfortunate victims of crime, 42 per cent said their vehicle was stolen, with the same level saying they had lost their contents, the survey by Zurich Insurance suggested.

With the group estimating that on average up to £3,000 might be stolen from the back of a plumber's, carpenter's or electrician's van, this could equate to a loss of up to £1 billion across the country.

According to the survey, the most vehicle crime-prone area was the West Midlands, where a third of small victims had fallen to crime, followed by London and East Anglia.

David Nichols, Zurich Commercial's head of package business, said that as the nation "thrives on the work done by small businesses", they needed to be able to operate in a safe fashion.

"Zurich reminds van users to take sensible precautions against the risk of losing not only their vehicle, but also any tools and stock they might have stored in it."