Almost 60 per cent of Irish companies have been the victims of crime in the last year, according to a new survey carried out on behalf of the Chambers of Commerce of Ireland (CCI).

The most frequent crime against businesses is burglary of goods and stock, the CCI/Ernst & Young survey said. A total of 57 per cent had been the victims of crime, of which 78 per cent had suffered more than one criminal act.

Almost 40 per cent believe the level of crime increased during the past 12 months, while only 6 per cent felt it had dropped. The study also found the cost of crime prevention was rising.