Simply Business' mobile billboard.
The small business insurer is calling on the government to implement greater fines for those convicted of tool theft, as well as tighter regulations on the selling of second-hand tools. The insurer has launched a petition with the aim of attracting 100,000 signatures for the measures to be debated in parliament.
To mark the campaign, a mobile billboard was driven to the front door of parliament, laying bare the issue of tool theft to the government. The billboard, announcing the petition on behalf of the thousands of victims of tool theft, then travelled to some of the capital’s biggest building sites across Battersea, Nine Elms and Wandsworth. It also stopped off and visited well-known businesses on the way.
While the on-going Brexit debate has been taking government’s focus away from pressing issues at home, tool theft continues to have a serious impact on the lives of millions of tradespeople every year.
Well over a third have fallen victim, while 65 percent also know someone who has. On average, tool theft costs £870 in lost earnings each; almost a fifth suffered more than £1,000 in lost earnings.
Adding to this, the average tools stolen are worth £2,135, costing more than a month’s average real-time earnings. This means the average tool theft costs victims a combined £3,005, taking into account lost earnings and replacing stolen tools.
Over a quarter of those surveyed couldn’t work for a few days, while just under a tenth were unable to work for over a week.
One in three had their tools stolen from the building site – either from their van or from the site itself and almost a fifth had tools stolen from their van while parked in the street or in a public car park.
84 percent of tradespeople don’t believe the government is doing enough to prevent tool theft. Just under two thirds surveyed believe there needs to be greater sentences for thieves, while more than half believe there should be greater fines for those convicted.
Over a quarter of tradespeople believe the sentence for tool theft should be five years in prison, and more than one in 10 believe a £10,000 fine should be imposed.
Half of tradespeople also believe there should be greater funding for police and police presence on the streets, a third want to see greater restrictions on the selling of second-hand tools, and a further third believe there should be more CCTV in place. In addition, one in five want to see more street lights installed to deter thieves.
Bea Montoya, chief operating officer at Simply Business, said: “Tradespeople are the backbone of Britain, but they’re being stopped in their tracks on a daily basis due to the ongoing tool theft epidemic.
“Brexit is having a paralysing effect on British politics, but there are pressing issues at home which urgently need addressing. This is why we’re calling on the government to stamp out tool theft once and for all. We want to see greater fines imposed on those convicted, as well as tighter regulations on the selling of second hand tools which, because of their high value, are often stolen to sell on the black market.
“Putting these two measures in place will go a long way in combating tool theft, protecting the lives and jobs of millions of tradespeople up and down the country.”