New data acquired by Tell TVL has revealed the staggering state of tool theft in the capital, with an estimated £16.3 million worth of tools stolen* from vehicles across London in 2023**.
The data, supplied by the Metropolitan Police via a Freedom of Information (FOI) request, shows the escalating scale of tool theft and its devastating impact on tradespeople, with nearly 10,000 instances of thefts from a motor vehicle reported to the force in 2023 alone.
Laura Moran, Managing Director, TVL Group, says: “That an estimated £16.3 million worth of tools have been taken from honest tradespeople in just 12 months is a stark reminder of the scale of this crisis. For many workers, their tools are their livelihood. Losing them can mean missed jobs, delayed projects, and financial hardship, not to mention the emotional toll of feeling targeted and vulnerable.
“This epidemic is devastating lives and businesses, and it’s clear that more needs to be done to support tradespeople and protect their essential tools.”
Van theft also remains a significant threat for Londoners according to the Metropolitan Police’s data, with 2,760 vans reported stolen in 2023, meaning the force has seen a total of 11,799 vans taken since 2020.
Moran adds: “We are committed to combating this growing threat by working with police forces, vehicle manufacturers, and tradespeople to develop robust security measures and raise awareness of the issue.”
The FOI figures coincide with growing calls for action across the industry, with a second Stop Tool Theft rally scheduled on February 3, 2025 in London. The event – organised by Trades United – will see tradespeople from across the country gather in Parliament Square to raise awareness for the growing threat of tool theft and to demand stronger protections for workers and their equipment.
The Tell TVL platform, hosted in partnership with the International Security Register (ISR), calls on companies and van owners who have had items from their vans or their vans themselves stolen to anonymously report full details including images at www.telltvl.co.uk, as well as reporting the crime to the police.
This data is then used to create a real-time national database capturing the full scale and nature of van crime across the UK. Registered users are provided with free anonymised data reports highlighting crime hotspots and receive targeted crime prevention advice based on trends in entry methods.
*Tools are defined as:
- Mechanical, powered and non-powered hand tools – excluding garden tools
- Garden tools and equipment
- Building Materials
- Compressors
- Welding and cutting equipment
- Industrial cleaning machines
- Farm machinery
- Ladders, steps and trestles
- Other tools, building, and farm equipment
** The reported value of tools stolen are based on the owner’s estimations
ENDS
Notes to Editor
Tell TVL is an open-access GDPR compliant web form, securely hosted on the International Security Register (ISR) owned and operated by Retainagroup, the UK’s leading supplier of security marking and registration systems to the Motor Industry for more than 40 years.
The ISR is a highly secure and confidential database, accredited to BS ISO/IEC 27001:2013 and the ISR contact line is available 24/7 on 01233 333000 to provide immediate verification for members of the public, police and motor dealers needing to verify a vehicle’s credentials.
TVL Security is part of TVL Group, a privately owned business founded in 2012 and based in Brentwood, Essex. The company designs and manufactures leading vehicle security products supplying directly to vehicle manufacturers and the automotive market. Customers range from sole traders and SMEs to major fleets and vehicle manufacturers including Ford, which now offer factory-fit options for TVL Security products.
TVL Group is a vertical supplier operating in the UK supplying to the global automotive industry with business including vehicle security, precision engineering, metal fabrication, powder coating and van accessory installation.
For further information, please contact Dan Jones or Jack Hunsley at Garnett Keeler PR
Tel: 07826 528 541 / 07774 137 673
Email: dan.jones@garnettkeeler.com | jack.hunsley@garnettkeeler.com
TVL/067/25
