Majority agree tool theft sentences not tough enough

Over half of Brits (52%) believe sentencing for tool theft is too lenient, according to new research conducted by Direct Line business insurance.

The insight comes ahead of a Second reading of the Theft of Tools of Trade (Sentencing) Bill, which calls for provisions to be made regarding sentencing for theft in relation to the theft of tools of trade, scheduled to take place on Friday 25 April 2025.

The survey referenced a typical Sentencing Council starting point for a standard tool theft, in which a criminal with ‘medium culpability’ who played ‘a significant role’ in a group theft of goods worth up to £10,000 is recommended a ‘high-level community order’. Over half (51%) believe community orders are not sufficient punishments for tool thefts of any kind.

A significant majority (82%) of Brits also agree that theft from a van is at least as serious, if not more, than burglary from an office – despite carrying weaker sentences. While 69% think that breaking into an office to steal equipment and breaking into a van to steal equipment should be treated with the same level of severity, 13% even believe that thefts from vans are more serious offences.

The majority of those surveyed (74%) agree that increasing the penalties for tool theft would send a clear message that the crime will no longer be tolerated. Tool theft is viewed as an increasing concern by tradespeople specifically2, as seven in ten (70%) tradespeople report having had tools stolen within the past two years, with 65% saying tool theft is on the rise.

In a bid to help police forces collect accurate statistics, almost two thirds (63%) agree that theft of tools should have its own crime category. Not all police forces and constabularies record instances of tool theft in the same way, so it can be difficult to collect accurate statistics on the prevalence of the crime to understand the true scale of the issue.

Further public opinion around initiatives to tackle tool theft include 59% believe that the sale of second-hand tools at boot fairs, online marketplaces and pawnbroking companies should be banned unless the seller has proof of purchase.

Table 1: Brits’ opinions on tool theft

Source: Direct Line business insurance 2025

Most believe that tradespeople should reasonably expect to be able to keep their tools in locked and alarmed vans (77%) and that they deserve more respect for the essential role they play in our economy (74%). Many also recognise the constant threat of tool theft faced by tradespeople (72%), agree that it is not practical for tradespeople to empty their work vans every single night (71%), and feel that there is a lack of understanding about the impact of tool theft on individuals and small businesses (71%).

Mark Summerville, SME product manager at Direct Line business insurance, comments: “Tradespeople rely on their tools to earn a living, so when they are stolen, the financial impact can be significant. Replacing tools is not only expensive but also time-consuming, and in many cases, the vans themselves require extensive repairs after a break-in. This leaves tradespeople off the road and unable to work, further compounding the loss.

“Our research reveals the extent to which the public support stricter penalties for tool theft, especially in light of the essential role tradespeople play in our economy and the drastic effects tool theft has on their business operations. With many offences avoiding custodial sentences, a majority support stricter punishments in order to help protect the livelihoods of tradespeople.

“Initiatives such as tool marking and tighter rules around providing proof of purchase when selling second-hand tools could further help reduce the prevalence of these crimes. Tradespeople should also ensure they have appropriate insurance in place to help minimise disruption to their businesses in the event they fall victim to tool theft.”