What do I do if a client is unhappy with my work?
It’s a situation every tradesperson dreads: your client isn’t happy with the result of your hard work. Mistakes and misunderstandings…
Tool theft is on the rise and for tradespeople that can mean more than just a frustrating setback. Your tools…
Tool theft is on the rise and for tradespeople that can mean more than just a frustrating setback. Your tools are essential to your livelihood and replacing them could be costly or near-impossible – knowing how to keep your tools safe matters more than ever.
Whether you’re leaving gear in your van, storing it at home, or working on-site, a few simple steps could help protect your equipment and prevent tool theft before it happens.
How you keep tools protected ultimately depends on the nature of your work and where you live but we’ve got 10 top tips to get you started.
If you want to keep your tools away from thieves, basic security measures are a good starting point.
Thefts from vans make up a large portion of reported tool thefts so, from security measures to where you park your van, you should always keep your van safe:
Vehicles can often be easier for thieves to break into so removing tools from your van overnight could significantly reduce the risk of tool theft.
Where you park could impact the chances of tools being stolen. Try to park vehicles close to home/work, in sight of security cameras and near a light source (especially when parked overnight/when it’s dark).
Vans can face various threats like key fob hacking or lock drilling but extra prevention measures could reduce the risk. Suggestions might differ depending on your vehicle and how you use it, but generally include:
Vehicles might be an easy target for tool theft, but your home can also be broken into. A few tips on how to keep tools safe include:
Once you’ve worked out where you’re mostly likely to store your tools (or park your van), it’s worth installing alarms and/or CCTV. That applies to both your home and van – you can even get specific van alarms.
If a theft occurs, the video evidence can help police identify suspects and just the presence of them can deter potential thieves – and don’t underestimate the usefulness of a video doorbell!
More valuable tools are worth taking it up a notch! In the unfortunate event of theft, Bluetooth or GPS trackers can connect to smartphone apps and locate them, increasing the chances of recovery – the cost of tracking devices probably outweighs the cost to replace stolen tools.
You’ve likely got home, van or general business insurance, but does it cover your tools? It’s important to double check if it does, and that your policy covers the full value of your equipment.
There’s also specific tradesman insurance policies that might be better suited for your line of work.
You might wonder if the cost of insurance is worth it, but in reality your insurance premium might be negligible in the long run compared to the cost of replacing thousands of pounds worth of tools.
Make sure you’re aware of and follow best practices for maintaining the structural integrity of your van or storage solutions. It sounds obvious but a well-maintained vehicle or storage unit is likely to be more robust than one that isn’t looked after.
Marking all your tools can make them easily identifiable and help police return them to you if recovered after theft. Probably one of the easiest tips, all you need is a UV pen to mark them up with identifying information. Customisations like engravings or a custom paint job might also make them less attractive to thieves – it’s harder to sell goods that’ve been personalised!
If you don’t know what you’ve got, it makes it harder to know what’s stolen. Keeping a list of all the tools you own matters, including details like:
A log can help establish what equipment’s missing and identify recovered goods (especially by their serial numbers!). A record of tool values also helps check your insurance policy covers what you own and what you need to claim for (especially for ‘new for old’ replacements).
One of the best tools you’ve got (pun intended) against theft is your own wits. Metropolitan Police data suggests the most common time of day for tool thefts from vehicles/vans was 10am-1pm. Always be on the lookout for suspicious activity, especially on job sites. If you see any behaviour that raises an eyebrow, it’s probably worth reporting it to your site manager and to local authorities.
The top tips above are a good starting point to protect your livelihood and keep your tools safe. Prevention is always the best approach, but you can’t always completely guarantee protection against theft.
In the unfortunate event that you’re a victim of tool theft, insurance could help soften the blow. As insurance experts, we had a few more notes to add:
Some might assume that their business, home or van insurance covers their tools but it’s always best to check your policy. If you’re unsure, contact your provider and ask.
If you’re considering taking out a new policy that covers tools, look out for:
Exclusions and conditions are particularly important and could make some of the tips above ‘must dos’, not just suggestions.
For example, some policies won’t cover claims for theft where a vehicle/home is left unlocked, tools are stolen from an open vehicle cargo area, there’s no sign of forced entry, or the vehicle is deemed ‘unroadworthy’.
You might also need to demonstrate you’ve taken proper precautions to protect your property/goods.
Managing a business is hard enough without juggling several policies across different providers. Some (like us), offer a combined tradesman insurance policy that includes multiple types of cover, and can even be tailored to fit your business model.
Our own Trades Insurance typically combines a Public Liability policy, Good and Tools cover and Employers’ Liability policy all in one place. Our Goods and Tools cover includes £2,500 of cover at no extra cost and claims paid out on tools stolen from your van overnight!
Plus, you can add additional cover like Contract Works, Hired in Plant, Owned Plant, and Professional Indemnity if you need it.
Get a quote for our Trades Insurance today via our online quote and buy. Or if you have any questions about the cover you need, you can contact us and speak to our in-house experts.