The release of AXA's business crime index indicates that criminal activity against businesses is on the rise.
During the last quarter of 2004, AXA said, the average crime related business claim settlement was £3,643.
AXA said businesses have responded to the increase in crime levels by calling for tougher penalties on crime.
Research showed 58% of businesses believe the impact and seriousness of business crime is generally overlooked, and that there should be a greater focus on tackling this problem from both the government and police, it said.
Theft and malicious damage accounted for over 95% of the crime related settlements handled by AXA Insurance in the last quarter of 2004.
The most expensive criminal business insurance claim is arson. While arson attacks remain rare, AXA said, they account for over one-third of the total settlement amount.
