SMALL businesses in Worcestershire are being warned to be on their guard against burglars and robbers as Christmas approaches.

Insurer Zurich says nearly a quarter - 23 per cent - of small business owners it questioned take cash to the bank every day and alarmingly 43 per cent use the same route each time and 10 per cent always go at the same time.

Zurich surveyed more than 1,000 small businesses and found nearly one in three, 28 per cent, expected to be affected by crime during the winter time, and especially at Christmas.

Nevertheless one in five businesses said they had more than £500 in cash on the premises at any one time.

Ex-offender Bob Turney, now a security expert, said: "As Christmas approaches, shops are taking more money and need to be aware that they could increasingly become targets for the opportunist thief.

"Criminals are becoming bolder in their activities, and they are turning to what they believe to be softer and vulnerable targets such as small shops, where they believe there is a high turnover of cash, particularly at this time of year."

He gave a number of tips for small businesses to help them avoid becoming victims of festive crime.

* If you do bank your takings every day, vary the time and route, and also, if possible, the member of staff doing so.

* Install shop front grilles and improve your locks.

* Install CCTV.

* Make sure that your staff are visible at all times.

* Leave a notice in full view saying that the cash registers are emptied each hour and that cash is not kept on the premises over night.

* Make sure you lock up and alarm the property when you leave.

You can visit the website www.crimereduction.co.uk for more practical advice.