A second ‘van rally’ is being held today (3 February) in Westminster to call for government action on the issue of tool theft.
The event is organised by campaign group Trades United, which says it wants stricter enforcement of existing theft laws, with stronger deterrents against thieves and more effective measures to combat the sale of stolen tools.
Previously published research by insurer Direct Line showed that more than half of tool thefts were from vehicles, while according to newly-published research from TVL Security’s ‘Tell TVL’ campaign an estimated £16.3 million worth of tools were stolen from vehicles across London in 2023.
Today’s event follows a previous rally which took place in June last year.
Trades United founder Shoaib Awan said: “Tool theft numbers are rising year-on-year and not enough is being done by the government to protect the trades. A crime reference number is not acceptable. We don’t want policies that don’t work, we need strict enforcement and a crackdown operation with immediate effect.
“It’s distressing how widespread tool theft has become, impacting not only livelihoods but also mental well-being and family stability. The lack of effective intervention from law enforcement only exacerbates the problem.
“Businesses suffer not only from the loss of tools but also from the subsequent financial burdens such as increased insurance costs and repairs. It’s essential for communities, policymakers, and law enforcement agencies to work together to address this epidemic and provide support for those affected.”
The group is calling for increased funding for law enforcement, in particular specialist crime personnel and frontline officers, prioritising motor vehicle crimes.
It also wants extended consideration of previous convictions for possessing stolen goods, a revision of the Equipment Theft (Prevention) Act 2023 to include all power tools (or alternative legislation to cover power tool theft), and for tool theft to be considered an aggravated offence.
The Tell TVL data was obtained via a Freedom of Information request to the Metropolitan Police.
TVL Group managing director Laura Moran said: “That an estimated £16.3 million worth of tools have been taken from honest tradespeople in just 12 months is a stark reminder of the scale of this crisis.
“For many workers, their tools are their livelihood. Losing them can mean missed jobs, delayed projects, and financial hardship, not to mention the emotional toll of feeling targeted and vulnerable.
“This epidemic is devastating lives and businesses, and it’s clear that more needs to be done to support tradespeople and protect their essential tools.”
The Direct Line research, published last year, showed that in 2023 a tool theft was reported every 12 minutes, with the theft of tools up by 5% year-on-year – and by 14% when only thefts from vans were considered.
