By Fatma Younis
Traders' tools worth thousands of pounds were stolen somewhere in the UK every 20 minutes last year, according to data from 30 police forces. At least 26,164 tool thefts were recorded in 2025, though the true figure is likely higher because 15 forces could not provide data.
Gangs and 'chancers' driving thefts
Labour MP Amanda Martin said gangs and opportunistic thieves are behind the crimes and called on the government to do more. The Home Office responded that it is working with police to tackle and prevent tool theft, including increasing neighbourhood policing, investing in police forces, and using industry partnerships and AI to disrupt the sale of stolen goods.
Businesses hit repeatedly
Lulzim Pjetri, who owns Alliance Refrigeration Group in Birmingham and is also known as Mike, said his vans were targeted six times in a year. On one occasion, thieves broke into a parked van while two staff members sat in the cab eating lunch; they were unmasked, carried crowbars, and told the workers not to intervene. Replacing tools from each van costs up to £7,000, with a further £4,000-£5,000 for repairs, not counting lost work while vehicles are off the road for weeks. The average insurance claim for tool theft in 2025 was £4,206.60, according to Direct Line for Business.
Another victim: Kerry Field
Kerry Field, owner of Change It Homes in Warwickshire, lost £10,000 worth of tools and motorbikes in a break-in. CCTV footage showed the thieves making offensive gestures at the cameras. Field spent another £10,000 on security upgrades, including electric gates, cameras, and a rescue dog. He later found one of his stolen saws advertised online but was initially advised by police to retrieve it himself; the force later apologised. Warwickshire Police said it takes all tool theft reports seriously but could not identify a suspect in this case.
Calls for tougher sentencing and market regulation
Martin, whose father was a plumber, has campaigned for tougher sentencing and better regulation of the secondhand market, including pawnbrokers and online retailers. She said sellers should be required to prove ownership. Businesses with physical stores often require ID and CCTV-recorded transactions, while online platforms publish terms prohibiting stolen goods and encourage reporting of suspicious listings. The Home Office said it continues to work with police, industry bodies, and online sites to address unregulated tool sales.
Insurance gaps
At a conference organised by Fix Radio in Birmingham, traders complained that insurance payouts often fail to cover the cost of new replacements or lost business during repairs. Gareth Powley, a senior technical underwriter at Aviva and Direct Line for Business, said their policies operate on a "new for old" basis and urged tradespeople to examine their cover carefully, warning that cheaper policies may offer less protection.
Forensic marking and organised crime
Businesses can add a liquid DNA watermark to tools, invisible to the naked eye but glowing under UV light, to help trace ownership. Sergeant Dave Catlow of the National Business Crime Centre said organised crime groups are responsible for a large proportion of thefts, moving stolen tools around the UK and abroad for resale. A five-member rural gang was jailed last month after a Lincolnshire Police investigation revealed they used older 4x4 vehicles with cloned plates, travelled at night, and wore gloves, heavy clothing, and face coverings.
Police crackdown on car boot sales
The Metropolitan Police has begun issuing notices to car boot sale organisers warning they could face criminal liability under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 if they knowingly facilitate the sale of stolen, counterfeit, or illicit goods. Catlow said this has reduced the number of stalls selling tools at revisited sales. At Bonzer Car Boot Sale in Romford, east London, officers were joined by Kaiser, a two-year-old Alsatian rescue dog trained to detect forensic marking on tools. The landowner said they would do whatever is advised to stop the resale of stolen tools.
