The most common complaint was theft by customers, followed by burglary, robbery and violent crime.

The survey of 3,850 shops in both cities and the countryside was conducted by the Association of Convenience Stores.

[Corner shop workers] need greater protection... they provide a lifeline to many rural inhabitants and are especially important to elderly consumers

Sonia Young, editor of Convenience Store magazine

The industry magazine has called on the government to quell the crime "onslaught" with a "zero tolerance" campaign.

Of the shops polled, 3,173 reported customer theft in the last year, 405 a burglary, 163 a robbery and 163 a crime involving violence.

'Worrying rise'

Convenience Store, the industry magazine, is using the survey to kick off its campaign for government action against crime at the 54,000 corner shops around the country.

It says it will be asking customers to sign a petition.

The statistics

3,850 of 54,000 stores surveyed (7%) Theft - 3,173 (82%) Burglary - 405 (10%) Robbery - 163 (4%) Violent crime - 163 (4%)

Sonia Young, editor of Convenience Store, said: "Sales assistants and store owners need greater protection against the worrying rise in serious crime taking place in their stores.

"These people provide an invaluable service to their communities. They provide a lifeline to many rural inhabitants and are especially important to elderly consumers.

"These store owners should not be forced to go it alone and withstand the onslaught of crime.

"The government must act in the forthcoming white paper on sentencing to toughen up on those who perpetrate these crimes."