A sharp rise in muggings and pickpocketing in 2008, as well as a recent increase in burglaries, has added to fears that Britain could be facing a “credit crunch crimewave” because of the recession and soaring unemployment.

British Crime Survey figures released on Thursday by the Home Office show that the number of so-called “thefts from the person” was 25 per cent higher last year than in 2007. This compares with a rise of just 1 per cent between 2006 and 2007.