Tool theft: thieves ‘dress as workmen’ to steal equipment

Each year approximately 10 per cent of tools used on construction sites are lost or stolen, it is estimated, and thieves are now taking to dressing as workmen to evade detection.

Thieves go undercover to steal tools

The shocking figure seems particularly pertinent following a spate of thefts, and tradesmen will be especially concerned to think that it’s happening right under their noses.

Recently around £600 worth of power tools were stolen from two unfortunate builders in Kilwinning, with the culprits dressing up as tradesmen and pinching the equipment while the owners' backs were turned.

Van theft and break-ins

But construction sites aren’t the only place targeted by thieves - thousands of tools are stolen from vans each year, not to mention other commercial premises.

Despite statistics showing that vehicle break-ins are down, tradespeople seem to be bearing the brunt of what remains.

Nearly a quarter of those surveyed reported that one or more of their commercial vehicles had been broken into over the last five years.

Not only that, but with 49,000 work related vehicles stolen each year, it’s not uncommon for tradespeople to lose both their vehicle and their equipment.

Tools of the trade

It’s clearly not just vehicles that thieves have their eyes on. Tools used by tradespeople can be worth hundreds, if not thousands of pounds, making them an attractive prospect for the less honest among us.

And for those trades dependent on tools, succumbing to theft can have wider implications to the running of their business. In addition to tools insurance, knowing how to deter thieves and make tools easier to trace by the police is essential - and here’s what you need to know.

A nationwide phenomenon

Over the past week alone tool thefts have been reported in and around Swansea, Hitchin, Stoke-on-Trent, London, Sunderland and Kilmarnock - amongst other places. The value of the equipment stolen goes into the thousands.

Has your business been affected by theft? Let us know in the comments section below.