Sentences for Tool Theft Are Not Tough Enough

SENTENCES for tool theft are not tough enough, according to over half of 2,000 Brits surveyed by Direct Line business insurance.

The finding comes ahead of a second reading of the Theft of Tools of Trade (Sentencing) Bill, which looks at sentencing for theft of trade tools, scheduled for Friday 25 April 2025.

Typical Tool Theft Sentences

The survey gave the example of a typical Sentencing Council penalty for a standard tool theft. In the example, the criminal had ‘medium culpability’ and played ‘a significant role’ in a group theft of goods worth up to £10,000.

The recommended sentence is a ‘high-level community order’.

Most people questioned (51%) said community orders are not sufficient punishments for tool thefts of any kind.

A significant majority (82%) of Brits also agree that theft from a van is at least as serious, if not more, than burglary from an office – despite carrying weaker sentences.

While 69% think that breaking into an office to steal equipment and breaking into a van to steal equipment should be treated with the same level of severity, 13% believe that thefts from vans are even more serious offences.

The majority of those surveyed (74%) agree that increasing the penalties for tool theft would send a clear message that the crime will no longer be tolerated.

Tool theft is viewed as an increasing concern by tradespeople, as seven in ten (70%) tradespeople report having had tools stolen within the past 2 years.

Recording Tool Theft

In a bid to help police forces collect accurate statistics, almost two thirds (63%) agree that theft of tools should have its own crime category.

Not all police forces and constabularies record instances of tool theft in the same way. It means that it can be difficult to collect accurate statistics on the crime to understand its true scale.

Tool Resale

There was substantial support (59%) for banning the sale of second-hand tools at car boot fairs, online marketplaces and pawnbroking companies unless the seller has proof of purchase.

Mark Summerville, at Direct Line Business Insurance said: “Tradespeople rely on their tools to earn a living, so when they are stolen, the financial impact can be significant. Replacing tools is not only expensive but also time-consuming, and in many cases, the vans themselves require extensive repairs after a break-in. This leaves tradespeople off the road and unable to work, further compounding the loss.

“Our research reveals the extent to which the public support stricter penalties for tool theft, especially in light of the essential role tradespeople play in our economy and the drastic effects tool theft has on their business operations.

“With many offences avoiding custodial sentences, a majority support stricter punishments in order to help protect the livelihoods of tradespeople.

“Initiatives such as tool marking and tighter rules around providing proof of purchase when selling second-hand tools could further help reduce the prevalence of these crimes.”

>> Read more about tool theft in the news