Employees in York who dream of a light-fingered Christmas be warned. The chances are that you will have to face the court in the new millennium.

That is the warning today from John Bolton, community safety officer in charge of business crime prevention in the city, who points out that reported thefts from their firms by employees has risen by about 15 per cent in two years in greater York - from 48 last year to 56 in 1999.

"But take heed," he said. "Detection rates in York have increased too - from 60 per cent to 66 per cent. So two thirds of offenders will have to answer for their crimes in court.

"Clearly, if you see your office as a good way of making up a shortfall in Christmas presents you may have an unhappy new year."

Another warning: Courts take a dim view of crimes arising from a breach of trust. "So if as a trusted employee you steal from your firm the likelihood is that not only will you be caught, but that you will be sentenced more severely than any other theft offence. There is even a possibility of imprisonment," he said.

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