Tool Theft in the Trades

Ask any tradesperson about tool theft and you won't need to explain why it matters. It's one of the most talked-about problems in the industry: on sites, in the press, even in Parliament and, of course, in every WhatsApp group where someone's posted a photo of a drilled van door lock at 6am.

It's not a niche concern. It's a live, ongoing issue that affects real people's livelihoods, and our 2026 customer survey of 1,194 tradespeople puts hard numbers on just how significant it is.

Nearly 1 in 3 tradespeople have been a victim

We asked a straightforward question: have you personally had your tools stolen?

28% said yes.

That's not a fringe risk or a worst-case scenario. That's nearly one in three people working in the trades having their tools taken at some point in their career. If you've been lucky so far, the chances are someone you work alongside hasn't.

Almost everyone knows someone it's happened to

The personal experience figure is striking on its own. But the wider picture is even more telling.

81% of tradespeople said they know someone who has been a victim of tool theft. That's 8 in 10 people. Which means this isn't an abstract risk that happens to other people in other places. It runs through the entire industry, and is incredibly close to home.

It's the second biggest concern in the industry

We also asked tradespeople what their biggest worries about working in the trade are right now. Rising costs came out on top at 21%, which won't surprise anyone who has priced a job recently.

Tool theft came in second. 20% of tradespeople listed it among their biggest concerns, ahead of competition for work, the cost of materials, and even the availability of jobs.

That's a significant result. Across every trade and every region, one in five people put tool theft at the front of their mind when thinking about what threatens their livelihood. It's not background noise. It's a daily worry.

82% of tradespeople are worried about it happening to them

We went further and asked directly: are you worried about tool theft?

82% said yes.

Consider that against the 28% who've actually been through it. Far more tradespeople are worried about tool theft than have experienced it. The threat itself is creating anxiety for the vast majority of people in the trade, long before anything actually happens. That's a real cost to the industry, even before a single van gets broken into.

What you can do about it

There's no single solution to tool theft, but a combination of practical steps and proper cover gives you the best chance of limiting the damage.

On the prevention side, a few things make a real difference:

• Park with van doors against a wall or another vehicle where possible, making it harder to open without noise

• Fit quality deadlocks - standard van locks are not enough

• Mark your tools with UV pen, a DNA marking kit, or a dedicated tool-marking system, such as SelectaDNA. It deters theft and supports recovery if tools are found

• Keep an up-to-date inventory with photos and serial numbers stored somewhere off the van

• Consider whether your most valuable kit can be stored securely indoors overnight rather than in the vehicle

Prevention only goes so far, though. If your tools are taken, the question becomes how quickly you can replace them and get back to work. Tools Cover from Rhino is designed for exactly this situation - it covers theft from your vehicle, even overnight subject to certain security conditions being met, so one bad night doesn't put you out of work for a week. Take a read of our Ultimate Guide to Tool Insurance.

If you work on contracts or sites that require evidence of insurance, it may be worth pairing Tools Cover with Public Liability Insurance.

Your tools are your business

The 2026 survey makes it hard to look at tool theft as someone else's problem. Nearly 1 in 3 tradespeople have been hit. 8 in 10 know someone who has. And 82% are actively worried about it right now.

Your van is your business. What's in it represents years of investment and every job you've got booked. Getting the right cover in place is the easiest part of a sensible plan.

To protect your tools, get a quote online or give the Rhino team a call on 0116 243 7904.