Tag: stolen tools

Tradespeople Fight Back: The Shocking Truth About Tool Theft

Posted on by News Desk

Introduction

Tool theft is crippling UK tradespeople.

For electricians, plumbers, and builders, a van serves as much more than just a vehicle.

In fact, it functions as their mobile workshop, office, and primary source of income.

Yet, criminals treat them like easy targets.

Every break-in costs thousands. Every stolen tool forces another tradesperson out of work.

Here’s the problem—many van owners no longer feel safe leaving their vehicles unattended.

As a result, they are constantly worried about potential break-ins.

Some refuse jobs unless they can keep their van in sight.

Others risk parking fines because a ticket is better than losing an entire toolkit.

Enough is enough.

In response to rising thefts, tradespeople have brought their fight to Parliament Square.

By doing so, they are demanding harsher penalties for thieves.

Their message? Protect our tools. Protect our jobs.

Here’s what you need to know:

  • Tool theft is out of control—one van break-in happens every 12 minutes.
  • Tradespeople are struggling—without tools, they can’t work or earn a living.
  • The law is failing them—most thieves face little to no punishment.
  • A protest is pushing for change—van owners are demanding stronger sentences.
  • New legislation could help—but will MPs finally listen?

Let’s break it down.

The Scale Of The Tool Theft Crisis On Tradespeople

This isn’t just bad luck.

It’s an epidemic.

In 2023 alone, thieves targeted 44,000 vans, stealing tools and causing financial devastation—a 5% rise compared to the previous year.

To put that into perspective, a van gets broken into every 12 minutes, leaving countless tradespeople struggling to recover.

And here’s the kicker—many tradespeople don’t even bother reporting it because they know nothing will happen.

Why Do Thieves Target Vans?

Because they know they can get away with it.

Here’s why:

  • Tools are worth thousands—most van setups cost £10,000+.
  • Reselling is easy—stolen tools show up at car boot sales with no trace.
  • Security is weak—many vans rely on basic locks that criminals bypass in seconds.
  • Police focus on other crimes—officers prioritise violent offences over tool theft.

See the issue?

Taking advantage of every loophole, thieves continue to exploit the system.

As a result, tradespeople are the ones who suffer the most.

“If they steal our tools, they steal our jobs.”

Once the tools disappear, getting back on your feet isn’t easy.

Why The Current Laws Are Failing Tradespeople

Right now, criminals aren’t scared of getting caught.

As a result, tool theft continues to rise unchecked.

Why would they be?

The legal system treats tool theft as a minor crime.

Even if police arrest a thief, the punishment is embarrassingly weak:

  • Fines are small—many thieves walk away with a slap on the wrist.
  • Convictions are rare—most cases never even make it to trial.
  • Stolen tools stay lost—without a paper trail, police can’t return them to owners.
  • Victims suffer the most—they lose their tools, their income, and sometimes their businesses.

Sound fair?

Tradespeople don’t think so.

That’s why they’re fighting back.

The Real Impact On Tradespeople

Losing a van full of tools isn’t just frustrating;

more importantly, it creates both a financial crisis and a mental burden that can be overwhelming.

Let’s talk about Jason, a gas engineer.

He knows this struggle all too well.

  • Thieves broke into his first van, stealing £8,500 worth of tools.
  • He replaced everything and bought a new van, hoping it would be safer.
  • It wasn’t—criminals struck again.

Now, he refuses jobs unless he can see his van at all times.

“If I can’t see my van, I refuse the job.”

He’s not alone.

  • Some risk parking tickets just to keep their van in sight.
  • Others turn down work if they can’t park nearby.
  • Many struggle with anxiety, constantly worrying about another break-in.

This can’t continue.

Tradespeople shouldn’t have to choose between working and protecting their livelihoods.

But with weak laws, criminals keep winning.

The Protest Outside Parliament By Tradespeople

Enough was enough.

In response, tradespeople brought their fight to the Government.

As a result, they organised a slow-drive protest through Parliament Square.

The message was clear: tool theft destroys lives.

Vans covered in bold slogans sent a powerful statement:

  • “Every tool stolen is a job lost.”
  • “Hands off our van.”

Drivers blared their horns, demanding action.

Even protesters dressed as a spanner and a tube of caulk joined in, waving at passing motorists.

But let’s be clear—this wasn’t about causing chaos.

Tradespeople weren’t blocking roads or stopping work. They were fighting for their future.

And their demand was simple: harsher punishments for thieves.

So, did the Government listen?

That’s the big question.

The Push For Stronger Laws

Tradespeople aren’t giving up anytime soon.

They fully understand that without stronger laws, tool theft will only escalate.

As a result, more tradespeople will continue to suffer.

Instead, the problem will only get worse, affecting more tradespeople every day.

Over time, more tradespeople will be affected, facing the loss of their tools and income.

As a consequence, many will struggle to continue working.

Right now, MPs are under pressure to act.A New Law Could Change Everything

In December, Labour MP Amanda Martin introduced the Theft of Tools of Trade (Sentencing) Bill.

This bill would:

  • Increase sentences for tool thieves.
  • Classify tool theft as a higher-priority crime.
  • Recognise stolen tools as “significant additional harm” in court.

If passed, criminals will face real consequences.

But here’s the problem—laws take time.

Meanwhile, thousands of tradespeople remain at risk every single day.

So, what can van owners do right now?

How Tradespeople Can Protect Themselves

Until the law catches up, tradespeople need to take action.

Here’s what can help:

1. Upgrade Van Security

  • Invest in high-quality locks – Factory locks aren’t enough.
  • Install a van alarm – A loud siren can scare thieves away.
  • Use deadlocks – These prevent doors from being forced open.
  • Add a tool safe – Keep tools locked in a separate metal compartment.

2. Choose Parking Spots Wisely

  • Park in well-lit areas – Thieves prefer dark, hidden spots.
  • Avoid high-risk locations – Some areas report more van thefts than others.
  • Face doors against a wall – This prevents thieves from prying them open.

3. Mark and Track Your Tools

  • Engrave your business name – Marked tools are harder to resell.
  • Use GPS tracking – Devices like Tile and Apple AirTags can help locate stolen tools.
  • Register serial numbers – Some police units check stolen tool databases.

4. Get the Right Van Insurance

Even the best security isn’t foolproof.

That’s why having the right insurance matters.

Not all van insurance policies cover tool theft, so tradespeople must check the details.

For those looking for comprehensive cover, this guide explains what to look for.

The Fight Isn’t Over

The Parliament protest delivered a powerful message—tradespeople can no longer be overlooked.

As a result, they are demanding immediate action.

Without a doubt, they are demanding action and refuse to back down.

However, the real challenge remains: Will the Government finally step up and take action?

As tool theft continues to rise, implementing stronger penalties has become more important than ever.

Therefore, stricter laws are long overdue.

Until then, van owners must stay vigilant.

Because at the end of the day, protecting tools means protecting livelihoods.

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For more ways to protect your van and tools, check out:

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How Safe is Your Van?

Posted on by News Desk

News this week for van drivers to lose sleep over is a report that theft from vans is costing van drivers a whopping £264 million a year. A study commissioned by van insurance company Honcho, reports that each van break in costs tradespeople a massive £5,584 a time. 

Theft from vans occur in the UK once every 23 minutes. While some insurance companies are on top of this and help out by offering 24-hour replacement services for items stolen, so that van drivers and tradespeople can get back to work, pronto, many don’t and still take their own sweet time sorting out a payout while you watch the work slipping away. It can, on average, put a tradesperson out of work for around an entire month.

If you’re a sparky or a plumber and you see your van being broken into, the average loss from a theft would take two months wages to replace all the lost items. 

Yet still, 89% of you are not fully covered for loss of goods as a result of a thefy, and 84% of you don’t have a courtesy van on your van insurance policy. 

This makes the need for ensuring your in-vehicle security is as good as can be, with lockable storage and additional locks on entryways. 

If you don’t have the added extras you may need if you become another one of those unlucky victims of van theft, it might be worth checking out what a new van insurance policy can do for you. 

Don’t Let Your Tools Go AWOL

Posted on by News Desk

Here at CVI, we are sure you’ve heard ad infinitim about the risk of keeping tools in your vehicle. We know our readers are generally a pretty smart and savvy bunch, and so those of you who do carry tools, are, we are sure, know to display all the warnings, such as one of those stickers saying ‘no tools left in the van overnight.’

And it’s a good job you’re cautious, too While we know that tool theft was a thing (incidentally, catalytic converter theft is also on the up), did you know that tools are actually stolen from the vans of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland a shocking once every 20 minutes?

20 minutes?

That is a ridiculous number of tools to be going AWOL each year. 

According to research, tools went AWOL from vehicles 28.681 times last year. And that is just the thefts that were reported, so we can only imagine what that tally may be when you included the ones that didn’t even get reported. 

That equates to 78 incidents of tool theft every single day of the year. 

Of those thefts that were reported, the majority happened in London, followed by the North West, Yorkshire and Humberside. A whopping 4,400 crimes were reported in Lancashire alone last year.

This just goes to show how important a great van insurance policy is. If you don’t have your tools covered, you can wave goodbye to that job – and that’s something none of us can do with as things stand with the uncertainty of a winter of coronavirus approaching. 

Of course, personal responsibility also plays a part, and ensuring tools are well secured inside the vehicle, that the van is kept locked and well supervised can all help to reduce incidents of told theft from vans.

The good news is that some instance companies are now offering specialist tools insurance for van insurance policies, some even offering full replacement of any stolen tools within 24 hours – so there is no waving goodbye to those jobs you’ve got lined up, after all.

To stop the chances of it happening, here’s our advice:

  • Leave your van where you can see it – on site, if possible
  • Always lock it between trips to load and unload
  • Make sure you have a sticker advising you don’t leave your tools in there overnight and that your van is alarmed – it’s always worth deterring them from trying
  • Make sure you have lockable storage inside your van that is fixed to the vehicle – there are some great storage cages which can prove worth every penny
  • If you have safe overnight storage for your tools – use it!
  • Try and park the van somewhere secure overnight

We can’t guarantee you won’t get your tools nicked, but you can do your bot to try and prevent it from happening. After all, it’s another insurance claim that nobody needs to make….

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Complete your quick and easy quote

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