EMPLOYEES have allegedly stolen half a million pounds from their own companies in East Lancashire in the past 12 months, police said.

Police say the recession could be one of the factors, but claim increased scrutiny of accounts rather than more staff with their hand in the till is the reason.

But a Blackburn accountant said the current climate of wage freezes and redundancies had led to a ‘weakening’ of financial controls and disgruntled staff.

Figures released under the Freedom of Information Act show that in Eastern Division, which covers Blackburn with Darwen, Hyndburn and the Ribble Valley, £235,284 was stolen in 51 thefts between November 1, 2008 and October 31, 2009.

That’s up from £183,239 the year before.

The highest single figure was for a woman who was prosecuted for stealing £70,991, from Perry’s car dealership in Whalley New Road Blackburn.

The accountant was employed at the firm between October 2005 and May 2009 and denied stealing the whole £70,000, but admitted taking more than £44,000.

Det Sgt Adrian McHugh said: “Courts will sentence harder for these types of thefts because there is a breach of a position of trust.”

In Pennine, which covers Burnley, Nelson, Colne and Rossendale, £233,225 was stolen in 51 thefts, police allege.

The figures included one single offence by a man in Nelson, who has been charged with allegedly stealing £68,000 of tobacco from his supermarket employer.

However, during the previous 12 months, just £69,936 was stolen from 61 thefts — representing an increase of almost £165,000.

John Green, of Pierce chartered accountants in Blackburn said: “There’s more likely to be fraud in recessionary times.

“Employees have maybe not had a wage rise and are slightly disgruntled.”