Three-quarters of UK tradespeople have been targeted by tool thieves, and here’s what they’re doing to stop it
Posted by: electime 2nd June 2026
New research has revealed that more than three-quarters (76%) of UK tradespeople have been targeted by tool thieves.
The study, commissioned by Trade Direct Insurance, found that tradespeople are most commonly being targeted at their workshop (27%), having their van broken into (27%), or at a worksite (25%).
Trade Direct Insurance commissioned the study to highlight the ongoing burden tool theft places on the industry, as well as the measures that many are being forced to resort to to protect themselves.
Vans with a tradesperson’s branding (17%) are more likely than unbranded vans (10%) to be targeted, suggesting thieves may be targeting vans where they are more confident tools will be present, and in some cases, targeting specific trades.
This puts tradies in a challenging position, forcing them to weigh up advertising against making themselves less visible to thieves.
The research suggests that some tradespeople are already making this decision, as removing business branding from vans (14%) is the fifth most common step that tradies are taking to deter thieves. Additionally, even more tradies (23%) are removing their business address from the internet to make it harder for thieves to find and target them.
How tradespeople are trying to deter tool theft
- Emptying their van of tools every night (27%)
- Parking their van in a way that makes it difficult for thieves to access (26%)
- Removing business details/address from the internet (23%)
- Improving home/workshop/garage security (17%)
- Removing branding from van (14%)
Gary Higgins, former Superintendent of West Mercia Police and Director of Security and Risk at DeterTech, said: “Opportunistic thieves will look for valuables on display and take advantage of any lapse in security. Don’t leave valuable items visible, and always take security measures seriously.
“Any step that you can take to make yourself less likely to become a victim of crime is worth consideration. Obviously, removing branding and contact details can have a detrimental effect on business, so tradespeople will always need to strike a balance. My advice would be to make your tools less attractive to criminals and make it as difficult as possible for them to target you.
“There is a wide variety of security solutions available that are specifically designed to deter thieves. My advice would always be to do your research, look for evidence of success and invest in a proven deterrent. Deterrence is always preferable to any potential detection after the event.”
When it comes to specific trades, some trades appear to be much more at risk than others.
Bricklayers were the trade most likely to have experienced tool theft, with 100% of those surveyed saying they had been targeted. Caretakers (96%), building surveyors (94%) and joiners (91%) also reported extremely high rates of tool theft or attempted theft.
Joiners were also significantly more likely to experience violent tool theft, with more than a fifth (21%) reporting threats or the use of force during a theft. This is significantly higher than the average across all the trades (5%).
