Two thirds of tradespeople have been victims of tool theft, with the average cost of a theft exceeding £1,500.
According to the survey by insurance firm Markel Direct, a third of trade business owners have lost 1-2 days of work because of having their tools stolen.
Based on an average day rate of £238, this amounts to £476 in lost earnings, the report said, with the average cost of lost tools being £1,119.
The most common tools stolen are drills, which was highlighted by 56% of respondents, followed by electric screwdrivers (39%) and battery packs (36%).
Basic items such as hammers, saws and spanners are also taken with the report finding that entire toolkits or vans are often stolen in one incident.
Legislation proposed in the Theft of Tools of Trade (Sentencing) Bill aims to increase the sentencing category for criminals convicted of tool theft from ‘harm category 3’ to ‘harm category 2’, which would enable magistrates to impose harsher penalties on thieves.
In the study, 91% of tradespeople supported this move.
However, despite what the report described as “overwhelming support of the Bill”, the legislation has been delayed several times, with the second reading pushed back twice in 2025 and once in 2026.
Amanda Martin, Labour MP for Portsmouth North and sponsor of the Theft of Tools of Trade (Sentencing) Bill, said:
“It’s no surprise that 91% of tradespeople back this bill, tool theft is one of the biggest issues they face. This overwhelming support shows how urgent and widespread the problem is. Too often, sentencing does not reflect the true harm these thefts cause.
“I am campaigning to put victims at the heart of sentencing and to ensure courts treat tool theft with the seriousness it deserves, moving these cases to higher harm categories and imposing sentences, whether custodial or community, that truly deter criminals and reduce the number of victims.”
Crime against businesses is a major issue in the UK.
A recent British Chambers of Commerce report said two fifths of UK businesses have experienced some form of crime, including theft, fraud, scams and cyber attacks
Police-recorded shoplifting reached 516,971 offences in the year to December 2024, a 20% year-on-year rise and the highest figure since current records began. By March 2025, the total exceeded 530,000.