28 | OCTOBER 2021
Installer Support
ONLY 1 % OF STOLEN TOOLS ARE EVER RECOVERED , ACCORDING TO THE LATEST METROPOLITAN POLICE DATA
£ 17.5 million of tools were stolen in London alone in 2020 with £ 57,000 of tools stolen every day in 2020
Metropolitan Police data has revealed that only 1 % of stolen powered hand tools are ever recovered , costing tradesmen in London more than £ 38 million in the last two years , and £ 17.5 million in 2020 alone .
New data shows there were 28,338 tool thefts reported across London from 2019 up to May 2021 this year .
Barnet , Enfield , Ealing , Waltham Forest and Haringey are the five boroughs where figures were highest , with thefts in Barnet ( 1,917 ) accounting for nearly 15 % of the total .
By contrast , Merton ( 475 ), Richmond upon Thames ( 439 ), Hammersmith and Fulham ( 371 ), Kensington and Chelsea ( 371 ) and Kingston upon Thames ( 327 ) suffered the fewest reports .
The findings , collated by London plant hire specialists Herts Tools , come from a freedom of information request to the Metropolitan Police . The data reveals the impact of tool theft on livelihoods , the cost of the crime and the most affected areas in London .
Thieves are 10 times more likely to steal powered hand tools than non-powered hand tools , with 32,067 taken from 2019 to 2021 , compared to 2,993 non-powered hand tools . 1,942 garden tools were stolen in the same period .
Year on year , the cost of tool theft is falling : it dropped from £ 20.7 million in 2019 to £ 17.5 million in 2020 , a decrease of 15 %. However , the average cost of tool theft per month , so far in 2021 , is still £ 1.46 million .
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We just hope people take these new figures as a warning and make sure they ’ re vigilant .
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Stefano Lobban , Director at Herts Tools , said :
“ It ’ s been a tough couple of years for tradesmen and people working in construction , with Covid-19 really restricting their ability to work . The last thing they need is their tools being stolen , but this new data shows us just how common that reality is , particularly in London .
“ Unfortunately , thieves are often attracted to highprice items like powered hand tools . Of course , when these items are stolen , it ’ s even harder for tradesmen to replace them due to the high cost .
“ We just hope people take these new figures as a warning and make sure they ’ re vigilant .”
Brian Berry , Chief Executive 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 builders . It ’ s a shame that over a 40-year working life , a builder 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 .”
How to prevent tool theft
• Don ’ t store tools in your van overnight
• If you have to leave tools in your van , park in a busy area covered by CCTV
• Get an alarm , a lockable interior cabinet or interior deadbolts for your van
• Make your tools less attractive to thieves by removing brand name plates and marking them with neon spray paint
• Use stickers to tell thieves about security measures and act as a deterrent
About Herts Tools For more than 45 years , Herts Tools have been offering an extensive range of tools and equipment for hire and sale – to construction businesses and tradesmen . From lighting and excavators to PPE and powered hand tools , Herts Tools deliver first-rate goods to Hertfordshire , London and the surrounding counties .