The theft of tradespeople’s tools may have run to a bill of £94,521,600 last year, new research has revealed.
The analysis of freedom of information (FOI) data, obtained from various police constabularies by Trade Direct Insurance, found that these types of crimes are so common now that up to 215 tradespeople every single day could be having their tools stolen.
This means that if the tools were uninsured, the UK’s builders, plumbers and electricians would have had to work an extra 450,000 days just to cover the cost, with each case taking the average tradesperson a full week’s graft to do so.
Unsurprisingly, tool theft was named the number one financial concern for tradespeople in the research. With more than 85,000 public liability and 73,000 employer liability compensation claims made in the UK last year. Not having the correct insurance cover was also a top financial concern. Not having the correct cover for the latter can result in fines of up to £2500 per day, according to Trade Direct Insurance.
This concern was followed by worries about being sued by a customer and receiving a negative online review.
Andrew Marlow, Sales and Service Manager at Trade Direct Insurance, comments: “Tool theft has always been the plague of the tradesperson but it’s staggering to see the total cost of these crimes. There’s no doubt that tradespeople are targeted, and no matter how many precautions you take it’s almost impossible to fully safeguard against becoming the latest victim.
“Tool theft is anything but a victimless crime – it not only hurts financially in terms of replacement tools, but also lost work. The data we received from various police forces was extremely disturbing, with thefts in some regions running into the multiple thousands in just one year.”
To find out more about the research, click here.
27% of plumbers targeted in 2017
Warm.co.uk has also conducted research into the problem of tool theft. The company polled 562 plumbers, asking them if they had been subject to theft this year, and 27% said they had.
The research indicated that tool boxes were the most stolen item, with power tools and ladders also on the target list. For plumbers the toolboxes in particular are their livelihoods and the theft is having a huge impact on their ability to earn a living.
Matt from Birmingham comments: “I empty the van every night of my expensive tools, but my main toolbox is a pain to move – all my friends have had things taken, so I won’t risk leaving everything.”
Even TV celebrities aren’t beyond the criminals’ reach – when DIY SOS was targeted in July this year they lost over £4000 worth of tools from a van in West Bromwich. A BBC spokesman at the time had said the whole thing took “10 or 20 seconds”.
Andrew, a heating engineer from Bradford says: “There was a portable rock crusher taken from a building site over the road. This thing is the size of 2 static caravans, weighs 30 tonnes. No one saw a thing – it’s amazing how they get away with it!”
The advice from Warm.co.uk is to keep all tools close and if possible do not leave in your van unattended. Thieves have a very good chance of getting into any van, so either deadbolt all doors, or remove all valuables before leaving it anywhere.
