07:55 AM EDT, 10/24/2024 (MT Newswires) -- The share of Canadian small businesses directly affected by crime and safety issues has almost doubled in the last year, jumping from nearly a quarter (24%) in 2023 to 45% in 2024, according to a new report by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) published on Thursday.

CFIB said the key highlights are:

-- Waste and litter, vandalism, and theft were the most common types of crime small businesses experienced.

-- Businesses have spent a median of C$5,000 on crime-related expenses in the last three years, such as replacing stolen inventory or equipment and vandalism repairs.

-- Some business owners reported that the crimes they experienced, such as theft or vandalism, were "too small" for police to take action, or that police wouldn't come for hours or even days after they have been called in these cases.

-- The majority don't consistently file crime-related insurance claims as they worry about driving their insurance premiums even higher.

Most business owners think that governments are failing to work together on these issues.