Zurich: Nearly 1 in 5 small businesses hit by vehicle crime

Insurance provider Zurich has stressed the importance of adequate cover for businesses, with research claiming that almost one in five firms have fallen victim to vehicle crime at some point.

Some 17 per cent of the businesses surveyed by Zurich said they suffered from vehicle crime, with 51 per cent of the reported incidents happening in the past two years.

Vehicles were stolen in 42 per cent of cases, meaning that the possessions inside were also lost, leading to an average cost of £3,000 in equipment and stock alone.

Small business owners are advised to exercise more caution by Zurich, as 16 per cent of those who own a van admitted to leaving their tools in the vehicle overnight, with one in ten leaving valuable power tools or other specialist equipment.

David Nichols, Zurich Commercial’s head of package business, said: "The nation thrives on the work done by small businesses so we need them operating safely and free from crime, but we also need them to get back up and running if they do fall victim.

"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."

Some 31 per cent of small business in the West Midlands have suffered vehicle crime, making it the worst-hit area, followed by London and East Anglia, where 26 and 21 per cent of firms respectively have been affected.