Tool theft from vans increase by 25%theft

According to data from the Metropolitan Police, there has been a significant increase in tool theft in London, with 34,712 tools stolen between 2021 and 2022 compared to 21,445 tools from 2019 to 2020.

Tool theft from a vehicle has increased by 25% in the last year, accounting for a third of all tool thefts recorded in 2021 and 2022.

Barnet recorded the most tool thefts, while Kensington & Chelsea recorded the lowest.

Builders were the most targetted trade in the report for thefts from a vehicle, and fell victim four times more than the next most picked on trade, plumbers.

Despite four in five tradespeople experiencing tool theft, only 0.3% of all cases ended in a charge for the suspect. In over 86% of tool thefts reported between 2021 and 2022, a suspect was never identified, and there were three times as many cases where a suspect was known but not charged than there were charges.

The Tool Theft in London 2022 report, collated by Herts Tools, reveals the impact of tool theft in London, the most affected industries, and the types of tools that are targeted most often.

However, a suspect is 20 times less likely to be charged for tool theft from a vehicle than they are for any other theft category.

Theft by London Boroughs

What to do if your tools are stolen:

How can you recover your stolen tools? 

Report your tools as stolen, calling the police on 101 immediately.

• Find serial numbers, makes and models for your tools.
• Retrieve photographs of your tools.
• Make a claim on your van insurance, giving your provider an itemised list of missing items.
• Use any tracking devices to locate your tools, informing police where you suspect they are, rather than retrieving them yourself.
• Visit local pawn shops to search for the items, as well as online marketplaces like eBay.
• Join trade groups on social media, detailing the missing items – somebody else might find them.