Simply Business has launched a campaign to Stamp Out Tool Theft once and for all, after research revealed that more than one in three tradespeople have had their tools stolen, costing a combined average of £3,005 each in lost earnings (£870) and replacing stolen tools (£2,135).
The small business insurer is calling on the government to implement greater fines for those convicted of tool theft, as well as tighter regulations on the selling of second-hand tools. It has launched a petition with the aim of attracting 100,000 signatures for the measures to be debated in Parliament. The petition can be viewed here.
To mark the campaign, a mobile billboard will be driven to the front door of parliament at 8am today (30th September), laying bare the issue of tool theft to the government. The mobile billboard, announcing the petition on behalf of the thousands of victims of tool theft, will then travel to some of the capital’s biggest building sites across Battersea, Nine Elms and Wandsworth – stopping off at businesses such as Pimlico Plumbers along the way.
While the Brexit debate has been taking government’s focus away from pressing issues at home, tool theft continues to have a serious impact on the lives of millions of tradespeople every year.
Well over a third (37%) have fallen victim, while 65% also know someone who has. On average, tool theft costs £870 in lost earnings each. Almost a fifth (18%) lost more than £1,000 in earnings.
Added to this, the average tools stolen are worth £2,135, costing more than a month’s average real-time earnings. This means the average tool theft costs victims a combined £3,005 on average, taking into account lost earnings and replacing stolen tools.
Over a quarter of those surveyed couldn’t work for a few days, while 8% were unable to work for over a week.
One in three had their tools stolen from the building site – either from their van or from the site itself. 16% had tools stolen from their van while parked in the street or in a public car park.
Is the government doing enough?
A staggering 84% of tradespeople don’t believe the government is doing enough to prevent tool theft. 60% believe there need to be greater sentences for thieves, while more than half (55%) believe there should be greater fines for those convicted.
Over a quarter (28%) of tradespeople believe the sentence for tool theft should be five years in prison, and 15% believe a £10,000 fine should be imposed.
Half of tradespeople also believe there should be greater funding for police and police presence on the streets, 32% want to see greater restrictions on the selling of second-hand tools, and a further 30% believe there should be more CCTV in place. In addition, one in five want to see more street lights installed to deter thieves.
Bea Montoya, Chief Operating Officer at Simply Business, says: “Tradespeople are the backbone of Britain, but they’re being stopped in their tracks on a daily basis due to the ongoing tool theft epidemic. Tool theft rips through the lives of thousands of tradespeople and their families every year, with victims losing out on over £3,000 each on average – through lost earnings and replacing stolen equipment. Having their tools stolen doesn’t just impact their ability to work, but it affects their livelihoods too.
“Brexit is having a paralysing effect on British politics, but there are pressing issues at home which urgently need addressing. This is why we’re calling on the government to Stamp Out Tool Theft once and for all. We want to see greater fines imposed on those convicted, as well as tighter regulations on the selling of second hand tools which, because of their high value, are often stolen to sell on the black market.
“Putting these two measures in place will go a long way in combating tool theft, protecting the lives and jobs of millions of tradespeople up and down the country.”
To learn more about the campaign, visit get.simplybusiness.co.uk/stamp-out-tool-theft
