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According to the latest Quarterly Economic Survey from Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Chamber, 21 per cent of firms have reported an increase in crime since the economy went into decline.

However, while theft was reported by around 57 per cent of firms in both counties there was a clear split when it came to the next two most common problems of vandalism and theft by someone on the inside.

In Nottinghamshire, 39 per cent of firms reported cases of vandalism but only 21 per cent of their Derbyshire counterparts reported the same problem. When it came to internal theft, the gap was even wider with 32 per cent reporting cases in Nottinghamshire and just eight per cent in Derbyshire.

Chamber president Phil Stanyer: "Business crime remains a serious issue and an evil which affects everyone, not just companies. We would urge employees to be vigilant and for firms to consider joining BusinessWatch and other anticrime groups.

"One could anticipate the rise in thefts but it is harder to explain the differences between the two counties. It may be related to the size of companies - smaller firms may have a greater connection to their local communities and their employees may feel a greater sense of loyalty."

While there were similar levels of anti-social behaviour reported in both counties, there were no cases of violence against staff reported by Derbyshire respondents which contrasts with eight per cent in Nottinghamshire.