Protecting your business from tool theft

Sometimes we’re forced to address issues that are a bit more important than deciding which car you’d like to lease next. This particular issue is more likely to affect those of you leasing vans rather than cars. We’re not leaping to conclusions, but if you’re leasing a van there’s a good chance it’s because you’re in a trade of some kind, and that means you may already have direct experience of the subject at hand: the rising threat of tool theft.

It's definitely not our area of expertise, but according to those in the construction industry tool theft is a rising problem. A problem that costs the industry a whopping £400m per year.

Monster Mesh works with thousands of construction brands across the country, delivering large-format print solutions like fence covers and custom banners that offer both branding and enhanced site security. Founder, Mark McLennan, recently detailed customer conversations that reveal 69% of the construction brands that the company works with have been a victim of tool theft in the last two years.

These figures reflect an ongoing trend highlighted in a recent NFU Mutual study on the same issue.

Tool theft is one of the biggest problems facing construction firms and tradespeople, with the vast majority (92%) admitting they have been a victim or know a victim of tool theft. Almost three in 10 businesses have had a vehicle stolen and almost a quarter (23%) of tool theft victims were a target of organised crime.

Recent data found that the construction industry faces losses of more than £400 million a year due to vandalism and theft. Significant time and money is being wasted replacing tools, dealing with insurance companies, chasing up police reports and reorganising scheduled work. And it’s not just cancelled or delayed projects that are an issue as these incidents can also cause reputational damage and take a mental toll on victims too.

The problem has reached sufficient proportions that the construction industry went to the extraordinary length of organising a rally in London last month to call on the government to act, backing legislation currently working its way through parliament for tougher penalties for tool thieves.

The Theft of Tools of Trade (Sentencing) Bill, tabled by Amanda Martin, MP for Portsmouth North, seeks to impose harsher sentencing for tool thieves. The bill proposes adding theft of tools to the list of examples considered as causing "significant additional harm" to a victim, as well as recognising the total financial impact of having tools stolen, such as repairs to a vehicle and loss of work.

You can’t really blame the industry for demanding action either.

The value of tools stolen from vans is £000s

A roofer from Kent lost £3,000 worth of tools while he was buying coffee. A plumber from Sussex had £6,000 of equipment stolen from his van. Power tools worth more than £20,000 were stolen from a charity workshop just before Christmas. In one case, a builder lost around £15,000 worth of tools from his van in under five minutes, an event that led to the loss of his entire business and an attempt to take his own life.

This issue can affect peoples’ lives in ways far more significant than mere money.

An additional complication at the moment are those dark winter nights that bring greater opportunity for theft. Tool theft is a year-round issue however, the dark winter months increase the risk on construction sites. This, combined with lower staffing levels over winter, can leave tradespeople and businesses more vulnerable to theft.

Which is why Monster-Mesh has now stepped in to share a few simple tips to help tradespeople protect their tools from theft. While it’s difficult to fully prevent tool theft, there are many low-cost actions tradespeople can take to deter thieves.

Mark McLennan of Monster-Mesh said:

“Tool and van theft is one of the biggest problems for tradespeople, costing them far too much time, money, and stress, especially given the ongoing cost of living crisis. Many just don’t have the resources to spare, which is why we wanted to warn the industry and share a range of low-cost tips to help tradespeople prevent tool theft by putting their best foot forward.”

Four low-cost tips to prevent and protect against tool theft

1. Protect your vehicles
Keeping your vehicle locked and equipment out of sight are basic preventative measures all tradespeople should take. It’s also worth parking strategically, considering where and how you park. For example, parking close to a wall makes it difficult to open the van doors if a criminal does manage to unlock it.

2. Mark your tools against theft
Marking your tools can deter thieves and make it easier to recover stolen items. There are a few ways to mark tools, including engravers, UV marking or Air Tags, which are all relatively low-cost ways to protect your tools.

3. Construction site security fencing
Using hoardings or security fencing provides a solid, secure barrier around your construction site, which is more difficult for criminals to breach. Fence covers can also improve privacy and security for your tools. Keeping tools and equipment out of sight can remove some temptation and deter opportunistic thieves.

4. Use secure equipment storage
Properly storing your tools will help reduce the chance of theft. Use secure storage units or fixed anchor points to make it harder for thieves to target your tools, giving you peace of mind when they are not in use. Making sure your valuable tools and machinery are stored in a well-lit area of your site can also help to deter thieves.