Crime costs companies about €4,200 a year

CRIME cost small business in Ireland €1.5 billion last year with one-in-two enterprises the victims of crime.

A survey from ISME, the small and medium enterprise association, said the construction and retail sectors were the worst affected by crime.

Dublin is the worst affected area, followed by Connaught, Leinster and Ulster. Of all the provinces Munster is the least affected, with a quarter of businesses saying they suffered from crime over the past 12 months.