Carpenter Starts Nationwide Campaign In Attempt To Finally Put An End To Tool Thieves

When setting out as a self-employed tradesperson, there are a lot of obstacles to overcome. Whether it’s getting the jobs in, finding the right contractors, or getting your taxes right, there’s always something to overcome.

One thing we shouldn’t have to worry about, but sadly do, is having all of our tools stolen. For many, this is the most sickening thought of all, and it happens far too often.

Firstly, stealing is always wrong to begin with, but stealing tools takes it to a whole new level. It’s not like stealing a TV, or a Playstation. When you steal tools from a tradesperson, you’re stealing their livelihood – their ability to put food on the table for their family.

So, what do we do about it? How can we ensure that those responsible for these heinous crimes are brought to justice, and how can we help those that they have robbed?

Well, a campaign by carpenter Lee Watts might have the answer. Lee, who is from West Bromwich, launched a campaign on the website 38degrees called ‘Tool Crime Deserves Time’, in which he laid out a plan to address the issue legally.

The campaign suggests that, due to the severity of stealing someone’s livelihood, the act of stealing tools should carry at least a 2 year sentence for those convicted.

The campaign is in the form of a petition, which they want to reach Parliament to demand new laws that impose a minimum 2 year sentence on those convicted of vandalising vans and stealing tools. They also want to ensure that any victim reimbursed by some kind of government fund, so that they are able to continue working

“It is an increasing problem Country wide for all tradesmen and women” says Lee on the campaign page.

“It takes years of hard work and a large expense to build up a tool kit and a van that enables you to earn an honest living. More and more people are being affected by this crime and it needs to be stopped. Also, we need a system that ensures any victim will be reimbursed for their loss in full immediately to enable that person to carry on working”

The campaign set an aim of 45,000 signatures, and is tantalisingly close to that goal, with a total of 42,783 signatures so far. If you’re on board with the petition, you can add your name – it doesn’t take long at all.

When the goal is reached, it will be presented to Lee’s local MP, who will be taking the petition and campaign to parliament to be heard by the houses of commons.

It can take years to build up a full set of tools, each of them paid for through your own blood, sweat, and tears. To have them stolen is gut-wrenching.

It’s all very well taking precautions when it comes to your tools – for example, not leaving them in the van overnight. However, tool thieves have got more and more brazen over the last few years. Take Lee, for example – the first time he was stolen from, thieves broke into his van when it was parked up. The second time took things to a whole new level, when the thieves ripped open an on-site safe and emptied it of its contents.

Of course, it is possible to insure your tools, and most of us do, but that comes with its own problems. The wait between making the claim and actually receiving the payout can take so long that it is likely to put some people out of business, especially if they don’t have savings.

Insurance premiums are likely to go up as well, given that these kind of crimes are on the rise. Last year, figures from West Midlands Police revealed that there had been an average of 225 thefts per month from Ford Transit vans alone. This figure has almost tripled since 2014. In total, in just over 3 years, there have been a total of 6,500 thefts of this kind.

Let’s hope that Lee’s petition reaches its goal, and is finally debated in the house of commons. In the meantime, be vigilant and keep your tools safe. As well as removing tools from the van overnight, we recommend investing in extra security features, such as second locks and forensic marking, if possible.

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