Tool theft from a vehicle in London increased by 25% in the past year, accounting for a third of all tool thefts recorded in 2021 and 2022, new research suggests.

A Freedom of Information (FOI) request to the Metropolitan Police also revealed that a suspect is 20 times less likely to be charged for tool theft from a vehicle than they are for any other theft category.

While as many as four in five tradespeople have experienced tool theft, just 0.3% of all cases (three cases per 1,000) ended in a charge for the suspect. 

In more than 86% of the tool thefts reported between 2021 and 2022, a suspect was never identified.

In addition, 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 London telehandler hire specialists Herts Tools, reveals the impact of tool theft in London, the most affected industries and the types of tools that are targeted most often. 

Powered hand tools remain thieves’ top choice, with 22,005 stolen from January-October 2021 and January-October 2022.

That’s almost four times the number of thefts compared to standard hand tools and equipment (5,641), accounting for seven out of 10 items stolen. 

Non-powered hand tools were next on the list with 1,683 thefts, followed by garden tools and equipment (1,137), building materials (414) and ladders, steps and trestles (295).

Stefano Lobban, director at Herts Tools, said: “It’s disappointing to see that the tool theft epidemic is getting worse in London.

“It’s not surprising to see that high-price items such as powered hand tools are still the most sought-after by thieves.

Amid the ongoing cost of living crisis, the trade for secondhand, and potentially stolen, tools is booming, tempting more people into stealing tools.

“We’re urging those across all trades to double-check they have theft security measures in place, to avoid falling victim to crime.”

Builders are the most impacted victims of tool theft, reporting 290 incidents from both vehicles and building sites from January 2021 to October 2022.

They are almost five times more likely to experience tool theft than electricians, who reported 60 counts during the same period. 

The next most-impacted occupations were engineers (45), the self-employed (41), plumbers (30) carpenters (29) and gardeners (18). 

Trades that reported the lowest numbers of tool thefts included tilers, scaffolders, painters, joiners, floor layers and carpet fitters. 

Brian Berry, chief executive of the Federation of Master Builders, said: “With 8 in 10 builders reporting that they have had tools stolen before, tool theft is a serious issue for Britain’s tradespeople.

“It's a shame that over a 40-year working life, tradespeople will typically lose £10,000 and six working days to tool theft.

“Aside from the detrimental financial impact, tool theft causes mental health issues and stress for builders.

“Builders can protect themselves by bringing tools inside at night, adding extra locks to their van and marking tools. Installing an affordable CCTV system is a further option, as well as registering tool serial numbers on an online database.

“Builders should also check their insurance policies to see what they have covered.”

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 an insurance claim, 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.