Tool theft is occurring "every 12 minutes" across Britain with criminals making "a living out of our misery", industry experts warned today during a major protest in Westminster.
"Nearly £100 million worth of tools stolen last year and vans are broken into every 12 minutes," said Leo Wilcox from On The Tools during an interview on GB News.
"The sanctions just aren't tough enough. If you're a tradesman and your tools are stolen, you can't go into work the next day," he added.
Hundreds of tradespeople staged a "go-slow" van convoy through Parliament Square today, with vehicles adorned with slogans including "every tool stolen is a job lost" and "hands off our van".
Leo Wilcox spoke after a protest in London where a tank descended on Parliament square
GB NEWS / PA
The protest, organised by Trades United, saw around 500 people descend on Westminster from Brent Cross to demand stricter enforcement of existing laws.
Protesters dressed as a spanner and a tube of caulk waved at passing motorists during the two-hour demonstration.
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Vans are often being written off
Protest organiser Shoaib Awan, a gas engineer, told how he struggles to sleep at night after having £8,500 worth of tools stolen.
"Nowadays it's gone so bad, that if I can't see my van, I would not do a job. I'll refuse that job. That's a loss of earning for me," he said.
After buying a new van following the first theft, his vehicle was targeted again with the side doors broken in a second break-in.
Among those joining the protest was carpenter Stephen Baker, who contemplated suicide after thieves stole £12,000 of tools from his van in Watford last year.
Tradespeople descend on central London as they bring TANK to protest against tool theftsCCTV footage showed the criminals popping his van lock in just 22 seconds before emptying the contents in four minutes.
"Everything I had worked for for 13 years was gone in five minutes and I felt desolate with no way forward," Baker said.
Analysis by Direct Line business insurance revealed UK tradespeople had tools worth £98m stolen in 2023 - up five per cent from the previous year.
The research found 44,514 tool thefts were reported to police in 2023, with van break-ins accounting for 55 per cent of incidents.
Despite 94 per cent of tradespeople spending an average £626 on additional security measures, the crime wave continues to devastate small businesses.
Tradespeople reported losing work worth an average £1,836 after each theft.
Campaign groups Band of Builders and Trades United are demanding harsher penalties for those convicted of tool and vehicle theft.
They also want improved security at public spaces and a dedicated task force to address theft relating to tradespeople.
"We need to strange where these things are being sold. In car boot sales and markets, it's a breeding ground for tools being resold," said Leo Wilcox.
The government said it would continue working with police "to explore ways to tackle tool theft, ensure justice for victims and punish criminals."
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