Leeds Shopworkers Live In Fear Of Crime

"It scares you. It's the violence, not knowing what's going on... You just feel alone. You don't really know what to do."

70% of staff - who are victims of crime - say they suffer lasting distress as a result.

It's as new research says that over half of the country’s small and medium businesses have been targetted, with average costs of around £2600.

Research by the Victim Support and ADT Charity also revealed 26% concerned about security issues.

Over a quarter were burgled, while 24% suffered theft from an outsider. For one in five in the study it's not a one-off, as they're targeted by theft 20 times or more across the lifespan of their business.

Amy Schofield is a supervisor at a pet shop in Leeds. She says there's many factors involved in it "I think some of it is because we're a small business but I also think some of it is.. We're quite far down the Headrow, quite hidden.

"We've had violence towards the staff, we've had tills thrown off the counter... It scares you. Not so much the shoplifters - that doesn't scare you. It's the violence, it's not knowing what's going on. A couple of weeks ago we had a violent, aggressive man in store and you just feel... alone.

"One of us always has the radio on us, which is always on and always with us. We also have somebody that's upstairs in the shop at all times, just generally walking around the shop keeping an eye on people rather than being behind the counter."