Tool thieves costing millions

By Matt Romania

The issue of tool theft in Victoria has become a scourge, costing the state’s tradespeople a staggering $20 million over the past year. The Crime Statistics Agency reports an alarming 29,000 tools stolen leading up to March 2023, underscoring the significant financial blow to individual workers and the crippling impact on productivity until replacements can be secured or vehicles repaired.

Ballan tradie Will Greenock fell victim to such a crime recently. His work truck was broken into recently, lockboxes tampered with, and some of his tools removed. The brazen thieves caused such damage that he can no longer access two of his toolboxes, disrupting his work and jeopardising his livelihood. To add insult to injury, the thieves discarded welding equipment worth thousands of dollars in the rain.

Speaking to the Moorabool News, Mr Greenock remarked, “It’s more than just an inconvenience,” emphasising the ripple effect such incidents have on a tradie’s productivity, morale, and the need to enhance security measures.

“At the end of the day, my priority is getting it sorted, so I can get back on the job. But when stuff like this happens, it makes it really hard. It’s tough”, he said.

Responding to this escalating issue, the RACV is urging tradespeople to ensure they’re adopting practical measures to safeguard their tools against theft.

“Store tools in a heavy-duty truck bed or portable toolbox with a strong padlock. If your toolbox is portable, fix it to your vehicle with a hardened steel security chain,” Darren Turner, RACV General Manager Home Portfolio said.

The RACV also recommends the use of small GPS trackers on high-value tools.

“This solution allows owners to monitor the live location of their tools via a smartphone app, providing real-time updates, peace of mind and something to give to Police,” Mr Turner said.

“Clearly marking or engraving your ID details on tools will make them much harder for thieves to resell, easier for you to report and recover, and more likely to discourage theft in the first place.”

Keeping a detailed inventory of tool makes, models, and serial numbers, ensuring the declared value is accurate, and maintaining clear photographs of your tools can also speed up recovery efforts if tools are stolen.

As Mr Greenock has discovered, even the added protection of adding his name to the welding helmets is not foolproof but remains a part of the broader effort to protect valuable tools.