Tool theft surge leaves UK van drivers facing £3.5bn in losses

Tool theft is once again on the rise across the UK, and van drivers are bearing the brunt. According to new data released by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, more than one in four van owners were targeted in 2024. The result is a growing bill for both businesses and individuals, alongside increasing downtime and disruption.

Volkswagen’s survey of 1,000 UK van drivers revealed that 28 percent experienced tool theft last year. That’s up from 19 percent the year before, showing a significant increase in the number of cases. What’s more, the average value of stolen tools reached £2,433, and in over a quarter of cases, losses exceeded £3,500. This compares to just 10 percent of incidents at that level in 2023.

Altogether, the total cost of stolen equipment in 2024 has been estimated at £3.5 billion, with the burden falling heavily on sole traders, small businesses and trade professionals who rely on their vans every day.

Beyond the cost of replacing tools, van drivers are now facing much longer periods off the road. The average amount of downtime following a theft has nearly doubled, from 1.9 days in 2023 to just under four days in 2024. In some cases, drivers reported being unable to work for more than a week while they replaced tools, fixed broken locks and waited for insurance approvals.

The disruption is being felt most by those already under financial pressure. Over a third of drivers surveyed said the cost of living crisis was already a major concern, and many noted that the impact of theft had a knock-on effect on other areas of their business.

Victims of tool theft may also see higher insurance premiums in future. A claim for stolen equipment, especially if combined with vehicle damage, can make policies more expensive at renewal. For van users already managing tight margins, these additional costs make prevention even more important.

John Ricardo-Neto, Head of Product Planning at Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, said:

“Tool theft remains a huge issue for van drivers and businesses in the UK, and it’s concerning to see the number of incidences and the scale of their impact continuing to rise. We encourage van drivers to take extra precautions. That includes using our theft prevention technologies, making sure tools are secured inside the vehicle, and parking in well-lit areas with CCTV when possible.”

As cases continue to climb, security is becoming a top priority for van users. A small investment in anti-theft measures could be the difference between staying in work or losing vital income to crime.

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Photo by Mathias Reding on Unsplash