Axa UK has warned of a spike in the number of empty commercial properties being targeted by criminals. The insurer said it had experienced a jump in criminal activity in the past three months, building on an underlying trend of increased criminality over the past five years. It cited fly tipping, vandalism and theft as the main issues.

Dougie Barnett, director of customer risk management at Axa Commercial, said: “It’s concerning to see a rise in criminal activity at vacant sites, both in terms of the number of premises being targeted and the level of violence involved. When the sites are used for fly tipping, all manner of rubbish can be dumped including chemicals and medical waste, requiring a professional clean-up operation which is costly and time-consuming.

“Thefts from these properties include valuable building materials such as copper pipe and electrical cabling, which are usually ripped out causing considerable damage. This can render the building uninhabitable until it is repaired, with significant financial repercussions for the owner.”

The insurer said it would like to see tougher penalties for those committing such criminal acts to deter others.