Over fifth of tradespeople have tools stolen from their vans in last 12 months

19 April 2023 , 11:53

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Over fifth of tradespeople have tools stolen from their vans in last 12 months

Nearly nine in ten tradespeople (87%) feel their vans are a moving target for thefts – as they carry an average of £4,300 worth of tools around with them in their vehicles, a study has found.

In the last 12 months alone, 22% of those who work in trade have had tools taken from their vans, while 35% have been made aware of attempted break-ins.

And less than half of those (46%) who have had tools stolen have been able to reclaim at least some of these tools.

As a result, the poll of 500 tradespeople, who use a van, have forked out over £750 to repair or replace items – on top of the hundreds of pounds of their own money that they spent on their original tools and equipment in the first place.

And the study, carried out via OnePoll, found that 87% feel that the penalties for tool thefts are not strong enough to truly prevent these crimes from happening.

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In a bid to highlight the issue, insurance firm Direct Line For Business has transformed a van into an office in a well-known spot for tradespeople in Slough, to highlight the disparity in the sentencing laws.

Tool thefts from vans are 'catastrophic' for tradespeople, who have to pay over £750 to replace items each time (PinPep)

Tradesman Joe Shadbolt said: “The impact of theft from my van has had a catastrophic effect on my day-to-day working life.

“If my tools are stolen, I can’t work. This means I’m not earning, and if I’m not earning, I can’t pay bills or support my family properly.

“By turning my van into an office, Direct Line are shining a light on an issue that is having a fundamental impact on my livelihood.”

The study also found 22% of those polled have even been approached and offered tools they believed to have been stolen.

But 87% don’t think the ramifications for tool thieves are strong enough to truly act as a deterrent, according to the OnePoll stats.

A spokesman from Direct Line For Business, said: “Theft from vans is a major problem for tradespeople, with 35% reporting an attempted break in over the last 12 months.

“From our interviews with reformed thieves, this crime is seen as low risk with a high reward.

“Tradespeople carry high-value items in their vans, and the punishment if thieves get caught is less severe compared to, for example, theft from an office.

“When speaking with our customers, we know a van is a tradesperson’s place of work.

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“It’s where they take their calls, it’s where they eat their lunch, it’s where they do their paperwork.

“We’re working hard to raise awareness of this issue – not just on behalf of our customers, but for every tradesperson across the UK that has, and could, fall victim to theft.”

Andrew Young