New research by On The Tools has revealed that tool theft is taking a toll on the mental health of the majority of tradespeople, not just those who have been directly affected. While 75% of UK tradespeople have had their tools stolen, an even greater figure (86%) worry about the crime, highlighting the widespread anxiety and stress caused by this ongoing issue. 58% said they worry daily, 26% worry monthly, and 5% worry yearly.
The research coincides with Trades United’s second tool theft rally in London on 3 February, supported by On The Tools, to campaign for government support, as well as a planned parliamentary reception by On The Tools in collaboration with MP Amanda Martin.
The survey was conducted for the November 2024 edition of the ‘Monthly Insight’ reports, which are offered exclusively to those subscribed to the On The Tools TradeBrain membership programme. November’s topic covered the pressing issue of tool theft, two years after the release of On The Tools’ Tradespeople Against Tool Theft white paper.
In 2022, the white paper revealed that four in five UK tradespeople had experienced tool theft, with two-thirds worrying about it daily. On The Tools also found that the average UK tradesperson is likely to have between £1,000 and £5,000 worth of tools stolen from them in just one tool theft incident. Two years on, On The Tools says that it’s clear the problem persists.
76% of UK tradespeople reported having their tools stolen in 2024, which is down 2% from the 2022 figure. However, the frequency of theft has shifted since 2022, as 43% of tradespeople reported having their tools stolen once, 37% twice, and 12% three times. 2024 data shows a rise in repeat thefts, with 23% having experienced theft three times, and an alarming 15% of tradespeople reporting more than three incidents of theft – which is a significant increase from previous findings.
In the 2022 Tradespeople Against Tool Theft white paper, 39% of respondents reported their tools had been stolen from vans parked outside their homes, 28% from building sites, and 15% from customers’ homes. The remaining thefts occurred in garages or storage (8%), inside their homes (1%), or elsewhere. By 2024, there has been an alarming rise in thefts across multiple locations. The majority (76%) still reported thefts from their vans, but there were notable increases in thefts from garages or storage (22%) and inside tradespeople’s homes (4%); a near tripling of the 2022 figure.
Two years ago, nearly a quarter (22.7%) of tradespeople admitted they did not report their thefts to the police, often because they didn’t expect meaningful action: an expectation shaped by widespread dissatisfaction with police responses. Fast forward to 2024, and On The Tools states that little has changed. When asked if they received adequate support from the police, 87% of UK tradespeople said they did not, reflecting a widespread lack of confidence in law enforcement’s ability or willingness to tackle tool theft effectively.
Commenting on the findings, CEO and Co-founder of On The Tools, Lee Wilcox, says, “Tool theft isn’t slowing down. These findings prove just how urgently action is needed. If this crime were happening in any other industry, at such a scale, it’s hard to believe it would be ignored. So why are tradespeople left to their own devices?
“We need everyone’s support, whether you’re in the trade or not, to amplify this issue. We want action, and we won’t stop until we get it.”
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