Ford is cooperating with the FBI in an investigation of a former employee fired by the company.

As a result of its ongoing investigation of a fired Ford Motor Co. engineer, the FBI seized the contents of that former employee’s work email account and a computer disk today.

The company fired former engineer Sharon Leach, 43, after it was discovered she’d placed listening devices in several of the company’s conference rooms. After Ford security discovered she’s placed the devices, Leach, a 17-year employee, claimed she used them to help her with note taking during meeting. However, they also recorded parts of other meetings.

Leach has not been charged with a crime.

Last month, FBI raided her home in Wyandotte, Michigan, and seized her personal email account, including all emails, drafts, photos, phone numbers, contacts and bank accounts tied to the account. They also removed secret listening devices.

The automaker mailed the FBI a digital video disk and an unidentified document earlier this week, according to the Detroit News.

“We continue to work with the FBI on this investigation that we initiated and requested assistance on from the FBI,” Ford spokeswoman Susan Krusel told the News.

Krusel says Ford offices were not searched and no devices were found inside the automaker’s world headquarters in Dearborn.

“Recording devices were found in an isolated area of a Ford-owned building,” Krusel said. “Because this is an ongoing investigation, we are not able to provide additional details.”

(FBI raids home of former Ford engineer. For more, Click Here.)

While unusual, the number of cases of corporate espionage involving Detroit-area automakers has been on the rise.

(Click Here for details of the pricing of GM’s new mid-sized pickups.)

Former GM engineer Shanshan Du and husband Yu Qin were found guilty of offering Chinese carmakers, including Chery Automobile Co. trade secrets the U.S. government contends were worth $40 million.

(To see how Bernie Ecclestone bought his freedom for $100 million, Click Here.)

The couple was indicted in July 2010 on three counts of trade theft and wire fraud, the U.S. Dept. of Justice also charging Win with obstruction of justice.

The investigations are part of federal efforts to crack down on Chinese spying and came about a year after a Ford engineer was also found guilty of spying on his employer for the Chinese. In all, economic espionage costs the government and companies $400 billion a year or more, according to estimates in a 2011 report to Congress.