4 in 5 tradespeople in the UK have experienced tool theft!
Thieves and thugs are targeting tradespeople to steal expensive tools, leaving tradespeople in the UK reporting losses of thousands of pounds. Since the easing of lockdown in April 2021, over £46 million worth of tools have been stolen from private vehicles, over a third of the reports have come from London alone.
This is the equivalent to an astonishing £245,893 worth of tools being stolen every day, with only a mere 1% of those being recovered, costing the average tradesperson an estimated £4,470
Check out our list below to see if you work in a tool theft hotspot!
Region | Number of cases of theft since April 2021 |
London | 12,769 |
West Yorkshire | 400 |
Northumbria | 233 |
Kent | 217 |
Surrey | 164 |
Hertfordshire | 140 |
Dorset | 135 |
Lancashire | 132 |
Merseyside | 91 |
Avon and Somerset | 84 |
- Consider tool cover - In the event your tools are stolen, this can help you recover quickly in order to minimise any time off from work
- Mark your tools - Strategically mark your tools so you can easily identify them if they are re-sold.
- Park strategically - Reverse your van up against a wall in order to prevent easy access through the back doors (padlocks are also a deterrent)
- Consider a tool tracker - Tool trackers are visible deterrents; the thief is more likely to move onto another target.
- Remove them from your vehicle - Remove your tools from your vehicle overnight (or keep them in a padlocked box inside your vehicle)
Two million tradespeople operate in the UK, tool theft directly attacks their livelihood and is being labelled as the 'tool theft epidemic' Studies have shown that roofers had been the worst hit group of tradespeople with 65% reporting they have had tools stolen.
It goes without saying, we shouldn't have to be having this conversation, but in the event you are targeted by a thief, it's better to be prepared!
Better yet, thieves, if you're reading this article, just don't.
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