JUNE 2026 | VOLUME 64 | ISSUE 5


Tool theft hits two-thirds of tradespeople in the UK


A recent survey has found that 66% of tradespeople have been victims of tool theft, with the average cost of a theft exceeding £1,500 and 32% reporting that they lost more than a day’s work as a consequence.


The study undertaken by trade insurance specialist Markel Direct suggests that tool theft remains a serious problem in the UK for those in skilled trades. A common issue raised is the sentencing of the thieves that are responsible, with many victims feeling that the punishment isn’t severe enough for the crime, due to the significant impact tool theft has on livelihoods. The same study shows


that thieves aren’t just targeting niche equipment; they’re also targeting what’s commonly used by tradespeople and easy to shift. Drills top the list, with 56% of tool theft victims having this tool stolen, followed by electric screwdrivers (39%).


Battery packs rank third


(36%), highlighting a growing vulnerability as cordless tools become standard. Their high cost and compatibility across multiple devices make them particularly attractive to thieves. Basic items, such as hammers, saws and spanners are


also commonly taken,


A single haul from an unprotected van or site


can be worth


thousands.” What makes the situation


harder to manage is how the crime itself has evolved. Whole-van theft has plummeted by 98% since 2023 as improved immobilisers and tracking technology have made stealing entire vehicles far harder. But criminals have adapted, with so-called ‘peel and steal’ attacks, where van doors are forced open by brute strength, and have become the dominant method Jefferson Tools advises that the


suggesting that many thefts are indiscriminate, with entire toolkits or vans often taken in one incident.


Easy targets A separate survey by Trade Direct Insurance Vans indicates that branded vans are more likely than unbranded ones to be targeted, suggesting thieves may be targeting vans where they are more confident tools will be present, and in some cases, targeting specific trades. Some 80% of plumbers say that their vans have been a target of theft. The research suggests that some tradespeople are being forced to weigh up advertising against making themselves less visible to thieves. Removing business branding from vans (14%) is one step that tradespeople are taking to deter thieves. Additionally,


even more (23%) are removing their business address from the internet to make it harder for thieves to find and target them. Tradespeople are advised to


be particularly alert during the summer months, with longer working hours, busier sites, and more tools being left in vans overnight or stored on open ground. For installers working across multiple locations in a single day, the threat is almost constant. “We speak to tradespeople


every day, and tool theft is one of the most common frustrations we hear about,” says Darren Binns, national sales manager at Jefferson Tools. “It spikes in summer because vans are parked up on site for longer stretches, people are working outdoors, and opportunistic thieves know exactly what they’re looking for.


most fundamental shift trades can make is moving away from treating their van as the primary, or only, storage solution. A better approach is dedicated site storage that keeps tools off the van entirely when they’re not in active use.


Power tool sculpture A striking sculpture named ‘Anguish’ has been unveiled to highlight the hidden turmoil faced by the nation’s tradespeople following tool theft. The 2.4m tall sculpture has been commissioned by home improvement retailer Wickes and was first revealed in Leeds, West Yorkshire – one of the UK’s hardest-hit regions for tool theft. Created by renowned recycling


artist Ptolemy Elrington, the sculpture is said to serve as a physical representation of the national crisis and has been built from reclaimed power tools and spanners, with power tools deliberately dominating the structure as the most commonly stolen items.


Gadgets & Tools See page 13


Inside this issue phamnews.co.uk


Talent Show See page 12


Energy Matters See page 15


Product News See page 36


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