The tool theft epidemic CRIPPLING our tradespeople – four tips to deter thieves

If you work in the trade industry for 40 years, it’s now expected you will become a victim to tool theft an average of five times. That’s as figures show that a tradesperson in the UK now faces this crime once every nine minutes.

In Wakefield, Paul Duffy has been self-employed for three years – and has had tools stolen three times.

During the most recent occasion, Paul attempted to stop the thieves as they tried to make off with around £1500 worth of equipment. He chased them down the drive, but was then attacked.

The thieves threw a car rear light at him, and the proceeded to reverse their getaway vehicle directly at him. Paul remembers hearing one of them shout “ram him!” This was all captured on CCTV.

Now, almost a year later, Duffy finds himself in over £10,000 worth of debt as a result of all the tools he’s had stolen. He also feels constantly paranoid whilst at work.

Speaking about how tool theft has affected him, he said: “I’ve got kids; I’ve got a mortgage, and that’s how I provide for my family. My tools are a way to make money. And they’ll just steal it – they’re not bothered.”

This has become a growing issue in the UK – five years ago, there was approximately 23,000 incidents of tool theft every year. That figure has now skyrocketed to around 58,000 per year.

In response, not-for-profit organisation – VanSafe – want tradespeople to take the necessary precautions.

Their founder, Ray Stafford, suggests four key things that can be done:

Be careful where you park.Invest in physical security such as hook locks and anti-stab plates.Look into having your tools forensically marked. This means if they are stolen, they can be traced back to you.Take out high-quality insurance.

On a wider scale, trade network – On The Tools – are campaigning the government to take action. For example, they want to see the sale of tools banned from all car boots and markets.

On The Tools CEO and Co-Founder, Lee Wilcox, says these places are “a breeding ground for the sale of stolen tools”, and it’s his hope that, if a ban were put in place for the sale of second-hand tools at these places, that the number of tools stolen would dramatically decrease.