7 low-cost tips to help businesses prevent tool and van theft

A tool theft warning has been issued as dark winter nights bring a greater opportunity for theft in the UK. Over nine in ten (92%) claimed to have experienced theft or know someone who has been a victim(1), which is why Mark McLennan, Founder at Monster-Mesh has shared seven simple tips to help businesses protect their tools from theft.

Tool theft is still one of the biggest problems facing small businesses, with the majority admitting they have been a victim or know a victim of tool theft. Almost 3 in 10 businesses have had a vehicle stolen and almost a quarter (23%) of tool theft victims were a target of organised crime(1).

The impact of tool or van theft can be hugely detrimental for businesses, recent data found that the construction industry suffers a loss of more than £400 million a year due to vandalism and theft(2). Significant time and money is being wasted replacing tools, dealing with insurance companies, chasing up police reports and reorganising scheduled work. It’s not just cancelled or delayed projects that are an issue though, these incidents can cause unknown reputational damage and take a mental toll on victims too.

Tool theft is a year-round issue however, the dark winter months increase the risk for businesses. This, combined with lower staff levels over winter, can leave tradespeople and businesses more vulnerable, making preventative measures paramount.

While it’s difficult to fully prevent tool theft, there are many low-cost actions small businesses can take to deter thieves.

Seven low-cost tips to prevent and protect against tool theft, according to Mark McLennan, Founder at Monster-Mesh

1. Protect your vehicles:

Keeping your vehicle locked and equipment out of sight are basic preventative measures all firms should take. It’s also worth parking strategically, considering where and how you park. For example, parking close to a wall makes it difficult to open the van doors if a criminal does manage to unlock it.

2. Mark your tools against theft

Marking your tools can deter thieves and make it easier to recover stolen items. There are a few ways to mark tools, including engravers, UV marking or AirTags, which are all relatively low-cost way to protect your tools.

3. Construction site security fencing

Using Hoardings or Heras Fencing provides a solid, secure barrier around your construction site, which is more difficult for criminals to breach. Use Heras fence covers too for added privacy and security for your tools. Keeping tools and equipment out of sight can remove some temptation and deter opportunistic thieves.

4. Use secure equipment storage

Properly storing your tools will help reduce the chance of theft. Use secure storage units or fixed anchor points to make it harder for thieves to target your tools, giving you peace of mind when they are not in use.

5. Security cameras

Visible security cameras will act as both a deterrent and a tool for monitoring your premises. You can now easily install remote monitoring systems where you can access cameras from your smartphone as needed.

6. Regular site checks

Make sure your valuable tools and machinery are on camera in a well-lit area of your business.

Whilst daily checks should be made to ensure your locks, alarms and lighting are all in place before leaving, regular functional reviews are useful too. This means you are less likely to get caught with security faults and gaps that leave you vulnerable.

7. Security guards or dogs – 24/7 surveillance for high-value sites

For high-risk or high-value sites, you may need to consider hiring security guards or dogs. Although it is more of a hefty investment, these can be very effective, particularly for night-time security.

Should these measures fail and the worst does happen, having solid van and tool insurance from a reputable provider (such as NFU Mutual) is a great safety blanket.

Mark McLennan, Founder at Monster-Mesh said:

“When speaking with our customers, we found a similar trend to the NFU Mutual study. 69% of the brands we work with have been a victim of tool theft in the last 2 years and it’s clear this isn’t a problem that is going anywhere(3).

Tool and van theft is one of the biggest problems for small firms, costing them far too much time, money and stress, especially given the ongoing cost of living crisis. Many just don’t have the resources to spare, which is why we wanted to warn the industry and share a range of low cost tips to help businesses prevent tool theft by putting their best foot forward.”

For further information on how to better protect your time and money, read our expert tips on how to prevent tool theft, simply visit: https://monster-mesh.co.uk/news/how-prevent-tool-theft/