Small businesses in Scotland have a much lower chance of getting broken into than rivals in many other parts of the UK, according to research by Bank of Scotland. In a survey of firms across the UK, only 13% of respondents in Scotland and London said they had suffered a break-in in the past five years. By contrast, a quarter of small and medium-sized enterprises in Manchester had been burgled, while 23% of respondents in Newcastle suffered a similar fate. The bank said the research revealed a worrying trend of complacency within small business. While 98% were at least fairly confident about security, 9% had suffered a break-in over the last 12 months. Sectorally, the worst hit sector by break-ins over the last five years is the leisure and tourism industry, in which 29% had had break-ins. The agriculture sector was least hit, with one in 10 businesses affected.
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