As a tradesman, it is important to protect your tools as recent reports hammer home the cost of stolen tools. In May 2023 a report by Direct Line business insurance showed that £66 million worth of tools were stolen from tradespeople’s vehicles in 2022, with a total of 35.098 tool thefts reported to the police – up 13% from the previous year.
The same report found that the police forces with the highest levels of tool theft per resident were the Metropolitan Police, West Yorkshire, and the City of London Police.
Protect your tools, protect your livelihood
Can you work without your tools? For many tradespeople losing your tools means losing your livelihood until you can afford to replace them. Replacing tools can be costly, according to another report by Tradespeople Against Tool Theft, it costs on average £4,470 to replace stolen tools.
To protect yourself and your business, we recommend getting tradesman insurance. As independent brokers, The Bateman Group has access to the entire market and we can compare policies from a range of lenders many of which are not available on comparison websites. Get in touch with our insurance experts so we can find the right policy for you.
Tips to keep your tools safe
Even if you are insured, tool theft causes unnecessary disruption and downtime which may leave you with additional financial losses. Here are our top tips for protecting your tools from thieves.
Stay vigilant
Take as many safety precautions as you can to protect your tools. From parking your van in a well-lit and secure space to only taking the tools you need on a job, always keep safety and security at the front of your mind.
Thefts can just as easily happen on site as well as from your home or office, so keep your tools secure and in sight while you are working too.
Mark your tools
Marking your tools with permanent marker, paint, or a name stamp can make them more difficult to sell if they are stolen. You can also register your tools on a national register such as immobilise.com so they can be returned to you if they are recovered.
Always check the manufacturer’s warranty before marking your tools as some markings could be classed as making significant alterations to the product and invalidate the warranty.
Keep your van secure
The majority of stolen tools are taken from vans, so keeping your van secure is essential. Some of the steps you can take to make your van more secure include upgrading your locks to slam locks, installing an immobiliser, and double-checking that the van is locked in case criminals have used a jamming device to block the signal from your key fob to your van.
Stay Organised
It’s important to keep an inventory of your tools so you know what’s missing if they get stolen. You’ll also need specific information relating to your tools if you need to claim against your insurance. Keep your receipts for any tool purchases, note down the serial number of each tool, and keep a log of where your tools are stored when left unattended.
Protect Your Tools With The Bateman Group
As a customer of The Bateman Group, we can help you through the claims process in the unfortunate event that you fall victim to tool theft. Complete our quick online form and we’ll get in touch to discuss our tradesman insurance options.
