HUNDREDS of tradespeople gathered in Parliament Square recently, calling for stricter enforcement of laws to prevent theft and resale of tools. Organised by Trades United, a group advocating for industry interests, the demonstration aimed to highlight the growing problem of tool theft, affecting London and the wider UK.

Trades United revealed alarming statistics, stating that over the past six years, more than 44,500 incidents of tool theft have been reported across the UK. Despite this staggering figure, the group accuses government of failing to take adequate action to address the issue.

A recent report, collated by London telehandler hire specialists Herts Tools, also revealed thefts in the capital increased by 111% from January 2021 to October 2022 and that 70% of all London boroughs saw a rise in tool theft during this period.

The Tool Theft in London2022 report, comes from a freedom of information request to the Metropolitan Police. The data reveals the impact of tool theft in London, the most affected industries and the types of tools that are targeted most often.

The data revealed Barnet had the highest count of offences recorded, with a total of 2,081, followed by Enfield (1,794), Newham (1,761), Brent (1,367) and Waltham Forest (1,318).

The five boroughs with the lowest numbers of thefts reported were all focused in south and south-west London. Kensington & Chelsea had the lowest number of offences with 333 reported, followed by Kingston-Upon-Thames (385), Richmond-Upon-Thames (416) and Merton (490).

Stefano Lobban, director at Herts Tools, said: ‘It’s disappointing to see the tool theft epidemic is getting worse in London. It’s not surprising to see that high-price items such as powered hand tools are still the most sought-after by thieves. Amid the ongoing cost of living crisis, the trade for second-hand (and potentially stolen) tools is booming, tempting more people into stealing tools.
‘We’re urging those across all trades to double-check they have theft security measures in place, to avoid falling victim to crime.’

Brian Berry, ceo of the Federation of Master Builders, said: ‘With eight in 10 builders reporting that they have had tools stolen before, tool theft is a serious issue for Britain’s tradespeople. It’s a shame that over a 40-year working life, tradespeople will typically lose £10,000 and six working days to tool theft. Aside from the detrimental financial impact, tool theft causes mental health issues and stress for builders.

‘Builders can protect themselves by bringing tools inside at night, adding extra locks to their van and marking tools. Installing an affordable CCTV system is a further option, as well as registering tool serial numbers on an online database. Builders should also check their insurance policies to see what they have covered.’
www.hertstools.co.uk