A new survey reveals that companies are suffering an average of two crimes a year, each of which is costing them more than £7,000.

And the report shows that even though 60 per cent of businesses have been victims in the last 12 months 29 per cent do not actually tell the police of the incidents.

The poll has been carried out by Coventry and Warwickshire's chamber of commerce, which is adding the results to a national survey.

The chamber's policy officer Stephen Docherty said: "Since our last national survey the overall cost of business crime to the national economy is estimated to be at £12.6billion and many millions of that hits us here in Coventry and Warwickshire.

"What is quite concerning is the figures show that many of those who are hit by business crime don't actually report it because they feel it is either not worth it or too time-consuming for staff."

Mr Docherty explained that the information would be used to lobby the government.

He said: "On a national level the evidence is being used to ensure crime against firms is moved up the government's priority list and locally we will be sending it to our constabularies."

Burglary and vandalism account for around 45 per cent of business crime in Warwickshire.