You may have seen us sharing data from police forces on our social media channels regarding the rise in tool theft. It's been found that by the year 2030, van break-ins will have surpassed 20,000 a year, and on average, 66% of these break-ins include tools being stolen.
That's why it's worth spending a small part of your week preparing in case you are targeted by thieves. Here we'll discuss what you can do and why you should consider Tools Insurance.
We must first talk about what you can do right now to protect your tools. Annoyingly, if someone wants to make a theft, they most likely will try and make it happen no matter the obstacles. Don't fear; now is not the time to give up hope as if you ever suffer from tool theft, you may be able to get them back by preparing with the following top tips from Rhino:
Imagine you have spent years building up a fantastic tool kit only for some heartless so 'n' so to come along and pinch it. How would you feel? Gutted is an understatement! But to prevent tool theft, we'd start by saying it's all about sticking to a routine. More often than not, the chilled laid back type of tradesperson gets stung by tool theft. Get into the habit of locking your doors as soon as you leave your van. Shut your windows, and don't leave tools on show. You know the drill.
You can find certain tools and insurance policies that will protect you overnight. However, we want you to avoid the headache of losing your tools in the first place. Taking that little longer in your day to remove expensive bits of kit and store them in a safe location at your unit or home will add a level of safety rather than simply leaving them in your van.
We understand that after a tiring day on the job, the last thing you want to do is carry heavy tools in and out of your home, office or unit. That's why it's always best to park your van correctly, so people don't even try to break into it. It’s also worth mentioning that Rhino offers tools insurance than can cover storage of your tools in your vehicle even overnight.
Tool thieves are crafty these days and use a variety of ways to gain entry to your property. Locking mechanisms, angle grinders, you name it, they will try it. Consider the location of where you park your van first. If possible, reverse up to a wall or garage door and keep the side door tight to a fence or wall so people can't access it.
It would be best if you also considered the following deterrents:
If you have been thinking about what the best van is for your trade, consider this article we wrote on the best vans that are cheap to insure.
You might think this is a waste of time, but it isn't. One of the best ways to locate your tool after its serial number is some type of mark to identify that it's yours. Whether that's a scratch/scribe mark, chipping your initials into it or drawing on it with a blue light highlighter.
If your tools are nicked, and you come across what looks like them, the police will be able to confirm they are yours with any unique details like these. Check out here what else you can do to protect yourself.
Tools Insurance with Rhino Trade Insurance starts at just £3.75 - an absolute steal! This will cover you in case your tools are stolen or damaged. There are countless benefits to taking your insurance out with us:
Finding yourself in the situation where you are trying to recover stolen tools, chances are you won't see them again, sadly. That's why having a good tool insurance policy in place is vital, as you most likely aren't in a position financially to replace all of your tools should they get pinched. With that said, what can you do to help any investigation to find them?
For every tool, you get, note its serial number and, better yet, take a photo of it. Even better, take a picture of yourself with said tool.
This will help the police locate any tools that are stolen, and also, your insurance company will be easily able to pay out the correct amount should you make a claim.
The last thing you can do to help the situation is to keep all your receipts/ proof of purchase. This is all planning for the worst. If that fateful day comes when you need to claim your Tools Insurance, you will have all your documents ready to claim and get back on the job asap.
If you have found that your tools have been stolen, you first need to phone the police and file a report. The police will then issue you with a crime reference number which you can provide to your insurer to show that the police are looking into the matter - it's imperative that you have this number before making a claim.
Your final port of call is to ring your insurer (hopefully us here at Rhino!) and make a claim for your possessions. Our friendly, understanding, patient team will help you in this challenging situation.
All you need is to have your documents on hand and head to the claims area of our website. From here, you will be directed to call our UK team, who will see that your claim is finalised and you are back on the tools in no time.
At Rhino Trade Insurance, we strive to offer the best possible service for tradespeople across the UK. Not only that, we aim to equip you with the most cost-effective insurance policies for your trade. As a tradesman or woman, you will be best served getting a quality piece of Tools Insurance to protect yourself in case the worst happens.
Contact our lovely team for more info today or call us on 0116 243 7904.
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