More than 80% of UK tradespeople have had tools stolen, with thefts up 16% in a year, leaving many facing financial ruin and questioning whether police and government can protect them.
Decorator Kevin Tingley, known as Paint Warrior with millions of social media followers, lost tools worth an estimated £17,000 after thieves broke into his van on Boxing Day morning. He had to cancel jobs for January and February, and still had to pay bills and his children’s wages.
Despite police obtaining CCTV footage of the suspects’ vehicle, Tingley has had no update in over two months. He is not hopeful of recovery, as only about 2% of stolen tools are returned to owners. He now rents a secure lock-up, adding to costs, and is unsure if his insurance covers the theft since tools were left in the van overnight.
According to a 2023 Direct Line study, a tool was reported stolen every 12 minutes, but many thefts go unreported due to high insurance costs or policy exclusions. The average tradesperson experiences tool theft multiple times in their career, with 37% suffering it twice and 23% three times.
Robin Clevett, a carpenter and YouTuber, notes the scale and frequency have worsened, calling it a crisis that threatens livelihoods. Tradespeople are calling for stronger police action and government measures to combat the epidemic.
