Businesses in Wandsworth have been hit by thieves and robbers 858 times over the last year.

A new report, High Street Blues, which aims to tackle small business crime has revealed that more than two Wandsworth businesses are targeted each day.

Across the capital there were 28,889 reported robberies and thefts in 2013, working out to 80 a day.

The report recommends preventative measures such as handing out DNA sprays to small businesses, as part of crime prevention kits, and establishing a digital crime mapping database, which identifies crime trends and hotspots, ultimately helping police gather evidence and target their resources more effectively.

Richard Tracey, Conservative London Assembly Member for Wandsworth and Merton, said: "Small businesses are the pillars of our high-streets, town centres and local communities, and contribute significantly to Wandsworth’s economy. Unfortunately, many are plagued with persistent crime such as theft and robbery.

"Distributing DNA sprays, that cover criminals with a solution for a few days after the incident, would act as an effective deterrent.

"It would mean that the Met would save money, as if the crime doesn’t happen in the first place, officers wouldn’t need to spend their time on investigations and the court process."


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