More than 180 caught stealing from bosses

More than 180 people have been arrested and charged for stealing from their employer in the past two years alone across the Black County and Staffordshire, figures show.

School secretaries, post office workers and travel agents are among those who have been hauled before the court.

The amounts stolen have ranged from a few hundred pounds to more than £250,000. Experts today said the current economic climate is turning more people to a life of crime as they struggle with their finances.

Figures released under the Freedom of Information Act show that Walsall had the highest number of people arrested and charged with theft from employer – with 15 in both 2010 and 2011.

Wolverhampton had 16 in 2010 and seven in 2011, while Sandwell had nine two years ago and 11 last year. In Dudley, 11 people were charged in 2010 and six last year.

Meanwhile, figures for Staffordshire in 2010 show that four people were arrested and charged in Cannock, three in Stafford and one in Lichfield.

Last year, when the force's custody suites were centrialised, nine people passed through Watling House, which covers Cannock and Stafford. Across the force area, 54 people were arrested and charged in 2010 and 43 in 2011. In the Black Country, 51 were charged in 2010 and 39 last year.

Cases include finance manager Kerry Smith from Bilston who pocketed £269,000 from Willenhall's Fobbersley Park Primary School.

Dr Victoria Galbraith, a senior lecturer in psychology at the University of Wolverhampton, said: "Obviously in the financial situation we are in at the moment, there are problems all around us. People are under added pressure to pay their bills."