Four ways to combat tool theft in the construction industry

In this article, Lucinda Thorpe, business development executive at Newgate explains to PBC Today the ways in which tradespeople can protect themselves from construction tool theft

The statistics on tool theft are eye-watering. According to research by the Federation of Master Builders (FMB), 51% of builders have had tools stolen. Some have been assaulted in the process. According to research by Direct Line, the value of tools stolen since April 2021 is over £46 million.

The problem is so bad that Fix Radio has launched a petition requesting the creation of a parliamentary committee to address it. Over the long term, this may be helpful. In the short term, however, it’s down to tradespeople and the construction sector to protect themselves. Here are some tips to help.

1. Have proper tool insurance

Despite the scale of the problem, only 41% of tradespeople actually have insurance to protect themselves against tool theft.

2. Create a security plan

Whatever situation you’re in, assess it for security and see what steps you can take to protect yourself. Here are some common scenarios and some points to check in each one.

3. Keep your van safe

If at all possible, keep your van in a garage. If you can’t keep your van in a garage, then see if you can keep it in an attended car park. This can be worth both the cost and a longer walk for the extra security it offers. If you must park your van in an unattended car park or on a public street, think carefully about where and how you park it.

Ideally, you want to park somewhere that’s well-lit, reasonably busy (even at night) and has plenty of CCTV around. If possible, back in your vehicle so that the doors are against a barrier. Use immobilisers and a wheel clamp to deter the theft of the van itself. You might want to consider internal CCTV and a vehicle intruder alarm.

Try to avoid keeping tools in your van overnight or if you’re off work for an extended period (e.g., on holiday). If you must do so, invest in a tool vault, make sure all your tools are marked, and use dye packs to mark any thief who does get hold of them.

Ideally, separate the cab and the body of the van so nobody can look in through the windshield or window and see what’s inside. If that’s not possible, cover the windows and windshield.

4. Ensure construction sites are secure

Secure your perimeter robustly and make sure that your barrier is checked regularly. Have a process for signing people and vehicles in and out of sites. Make sure that the inside of the site has effective traffic management and robust access control. In particular, make sure that any areas with plant machinery and/or tools are closely monitored.

If possible, secure plant machinery using an advanced tracker with an integrated immobiliser. These literally can stop thieves in their tracks. With that said, continue to use identifying marks as a backup, just to be on the safe side. For regular tools, keep an effective inventory and check it regularly.

Use CCTV in key locations. This should clearly include areas where plant machinery and tools are stored. Remember that CCTV will only work if there is plenty of light so you will need to supply that as well. This will also be likely to be needed for health and safety reasons anyway. Make sure that your cameras are checked regularly for dirt and other maintenance issues.

Use human security guards as much as your budget allows. These do not necessarily have to be on site. They can monitor your premises via CCTV. With that said, it can be useful to have at least one on-site guard or, at a minimum, to have a guard nearby.