More than two-thirds of small companies have been a victim of crime in the last year that has cost them an average of £3,000, according to a report by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB).

The data also reveals that more than a third (39%) of small firms do not report such crimes - showing that not much has improved over the past two years.

Nearly half said they didn't think it would achieve anything, a third (34%) thought the police would not be able to succeed in prosecution and a quarter (25%) said they thought the police just would not be interested.

"Small businesses are the heart of our local communities, and a crime against a small firm is not just an attack against that business but it affects staff and has repercussions on the wider community. With two-thirds of businesses still a victim of crime, it the government needs to step up and engage with this important sector of the community," said Mike Cherry, Policy Chairman of the FSB.

"It is paramount that the government sets out the right local agenda to protect these vital firms that are currently losing up to £3,000 a year to crime. We cannot watch small businesses being repeatedly victimised and as a result forced to close."