A tradesman lost an ‘extensive’ amount of tools from his van as it was parked outside a house in Uttoxeter, Staffordshire Live reports. The thieves pulled up in broad daylight behind the van, which was parked in a residential area of the town. The tools were quickly transferred to a white Ford Transit van, which drove off before the theft was noticed.

Fortunately CCTV footage has been obtained, which has provided vital evidence to help the police track down the criminals.

PCSO Sean Elliott, of Uttoxeter Rural, said: “It is a timely reminder to keep your vehicles secure at all times, even when working at a location. Opportunist thieves will quickly take advantage. With good information coming in from the local residents, and enquiries going well, the police, alongside the communities which they work, can often bring good results.”

According to Security News Desk, only 1% of stolen tools are recovered. Furthermore, in London last year, £17.5m worth of tools were stolen, which amounts to £57,000 worth every day. For tradespeople, who are often self-employed, the thefts lead to loss of work and income, and cause extra stress and anxiety.

For those with adequate insurance cover, it is a case of going through the necessary paperwork to claim the cost of replacing the tools. If the tools were not adequately insured, or sufficient security methods weren’t followed, then some tradespeople may not be able to afford to replace the tools, and never recover financially from the loss.

To reduce the chance of theft, police advise people not to store tools in their van overnight. If it is unavoidable to leave tools in the van, the advice is to park in a busy area, preferably one that is monitored by CCTV. Vehicles should be alarmed, and tools kept in lockable interior cabinets, which if possible should be bolted or locked to the floor.

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