Tools
Helping contractors tackle tool theft
Michael Brown, product design director at safety, security and materials handling equipment specialist,Metal and Modular, discusses the issue of tool theſt and the products available to help contractors prevent it.
and panicked because he needs a specific, high value tool as soon as possible, otherwise he can’t finish the job. It’s an all too familiar story thanks to the
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problem of tool theft, which can affect even the most vigilant of tradespeople and the most secure of sites. The very fact that tradespeople routinely fix signs to their vehicles stating that ‘no tools are left in the van overnight’ highlights how much of an issue tool theft has become. But tools are not just at risk when left in a vehicle; opportunist thieves can strike anywhere at any
ost electrical wholesalers will be familiar with the scenario: a contractor gets in touch, distressed
time, and lightweight, high value items such as power tools are their ideal loot. That’s why it’s important for electrician’s to
protect their valuable and business critical tools, even when they’re on a busy site. Electrical wholesalers need to be able to advise customers on the need for robust theft protection and the best fit unit for their needs.
A significant issue According to research based on figures from police forces across the UK, tool theft from site costs almost £95 million each year, and the problem is getting worse. As equipment becomes more specialist and higher in cost, it
becomes a more attractive target to thieves. Moreover, advances in equipment design often make tools more compact and lightweight too, so thieves find them easier to steal. Electricians know to be theft-aware, but they cannot keep a constant watch over tools that are not in use while on site and cordless tools set aside to charge can be particularly vulnerable. Larger sites have site wide security but, regardless of this, opportunist thieves will find a way to access the site and take whatever is close at hand. Meanwhile, on smaller sites, the only defence against theft is often simply the vigilance of colleagues. In both scenarios, a tool vault or fittings cabinet provides the ideal solution for locking tools away securely when they are not in use on site.
Knock-on effects While the financial cost of replacing stolen tools is a significant enough problem, the compelling reasons to invest in a tool vault or fittings cabinet are actually much wider because of the knock-on effects of theft. Without the right tools, an electrician can struggle to continue with an installation, and finding replacements may involve a significant cost in terms of time as well as money. This could lead to delays on site, loss of earnings for days lost to inactivity, penalties for late handover or even contra-charges if an alternative contractor has to be brought in to complete the job. Often, thieves will take more than one item or
may simply take the battery from each of the cordless tools on site. Replacing one of these is onerous, replacing several at the same time could prove extremely difficult.
Better by design Tool vaults are a robust and convenient solution for protecting tools on site, and can even be used to safeguard workers’ personal possessions, such as mobile phones. Not all tool vaults offer the same high levels of protection, however, so it’s important to advise customers on a unit that is robust enough to resist even the determined thief, while offering the capacity and manoeuvrability they will need on site. Metal and Modular’s Tool Vaults have been designed to both prevent opportunist tool theft and
18 | electrical wholesalerOctober 2020
ewnews.co.uk
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