Tool theft remains high

Over 17,000 tools were stolen across England in 2024. 

Police forces across England have shared tool theft data in a Freedom of Information (FOI) request analysed by van insurance experts at Quotezone.co.uk.

The responses reveal 8,694 tools were reported stolen in 2024, with an additional 8,670 stolen from vehicles specifically.

The FOI request was issued to better understand regional trends and identify where tool theft is on the rise – especially as reports from tradespeople and van drivers suggested the problem is getting worse in certain areas.

Regional tool theft statistics 

The data highlights areas that have experienced higher numbers of tool thefts in 2024 versus the previous year.

South Yorkshire experienced a 17% rise in tool thefts from 2023 to 2024, and North Yorkshire experienced an increase of over 9%.

Other areas have seen a slight decrease in the number of tool thefts, but the data generally shows concerningly high numbers across the board.

There are certain theft hotspots where van drivers and tradespeople should be on guard, including the Metropolitan area which reported 10,486 tool thefts in 2024.

Other particularly concerning areas are South Yorkshire, with 1,446 reported thefts, and Essex, with 901 incidents for the same time period.

Areas with highest reported tool thefts

Rank	Police Force	Tool Theft 2023/4	Tool Theft from vehicle 2023/4	Tool Thefts 2023	Tool Thefts from vehicle 2023	Tool Thefts 2024	Tool Thefts from vehicle 2024	Totals per area (most recent 12 months)
1	Metropolitan			4984	9507	4314	6172	10486
2	Hertfordshire	1915						1915
3	South Yorkshire			908	322	1004	442	1446
4	Lancashire	626	508					1134
5	West Midlands					753	352	1105
6	Humberside	757	326					1083
7	Bedfordshire	591	319					910
8	Essex			597	780	410	491	901
9	Cleveland			536	308	431	292	723
10	Norfolk	503	170					673
11	Kent			355	505	328	333	661
12	North Yorkshire			331	104	348	129	477
13	Avon And Somerset			550	175	364	96	460
14	Northern Ireland	327	48					375
15	Cambridgeshire	239	128					367
16	Surrey			317	119	247	91	338
17	Nottingham Shire			293	107	180	94	274
18	Sussex	58	122					180
19	Lincolnshire			174	47	145	31	176
20	Merseyside – Suffolk			42	87	49	110	159
21	Cumbria			133	48	121	37	158
22	Gwent	39	113					152
23	Devon And Cornwall	45	80					125
24	Derbyshire		59					59
25	Leicestershire	58						58
26	North Wales	21	5					26
27	City Of London	13	5					18
28	Totals Per Offence	5192	1883	9220	12109	8694	8670

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How this impact van insurance costs

The average cost of van insurance across the UK has risen by nearly 5% over the past year – with the volume of theft across the country likely a contributing factor. 

The van insurance comparison experts from Quotezone have revealed that it is young van drivers (aged 17-24) in particular that are being hit the hardest by soaring premiums, as they are paying up to 278% more to insure their vans and tools compared to older age groups.

Their average policy now exceeds £2,000 – nearly four times the £520 paid by drivers aged 45-65.

The van insurance experts at Quotezone are urging all tradespeople and van drivers to carefully review their insurance policies and make sure all details are accurate, and any extras needed are added, such as tool cover. Failing to do these simple checks could leave van drivers exposed if they become victims of theft.T

hey are also sharing ways to help keep belongings safe, as the high value items often stored in vans make them a prime target for thieves. There a

Quotezone CEO and van insurance expert Greg Wilson said: “Tool theft is having a serious impact on tradespeople across the country – and it’s an issue that can’t be ignored.

“Tradespeople are not only being targeted by criminals but are also feeling the financial strain through higher insurance costs. Our data shows that younger van drivers and tradespeople are being hit the hardest, paying nearly four times more than those aged 45 to 65.

“That’s why we’re sharing practical ways for tradespeople and van drivers to help deter criminals and protect their van and their tools.

“Simple steps like upgrading locks, marking tools and parking near CCTV could make a big difference.

“Of course, no security measure can offer total protection against determined thieves – which is why having a valid and comprehensive insurance policy is essential. It not only protects valuable assets, it protects livelihoods and helps get businesses back up and running again quickly.”

Five ways to protect your vehicle against tool thieves:

1. Plan your parking

It’s important to pay attention to where and how you park, as this can have a huge impact on how vulnerable your van is to theft and the price you pay for your van insurance. A good rule of thumb if you don’t have a garage or a private driveway is to park close to a wall, so the doors are inaccessible, make sure it’s a busy, well-lit area that’s covered by CCTV.

2. Upgrade your locks

It’s useful to upgrade the standard factory-fitted locks, as many of them can be easily picked open. Deadlocks double the security of your van and are difficult to crack as they don’t have a spring mechanism.  Slam locks are also a great safety measure as they automatically lock the van when you shut the doors.

3. Remove valuables

The easiest option to prevent tools and equipment from being stolen from the van is to not leave them in the van overnight.  Although it may be a chore to remove valuables at the end of the day, it may be sensible to lock the most expensive pieces in the house or garage.

4. Mark your tools

Marking your tools with distinctive or company colours can help identify them if they are stolen, it also makes them less attractive to thieves as they may have issues selling them on.  Keeping an itemised list of what you own and holding on to the receipts of the more expensive items can also help in the claims process.

5. Check your insurance policy

Getting insurance obviously won’t prevent the vehicle or valuables from being stolen, but it will help you get back on your feet after a theft, as it could protect you financially and help with replacements. To keep insurance costs as low as possible, consider where you park overnight, how much mileage you do and any security features you can add – all of which could help reduce premium costs.

Quotezone help millions of van drivers every year compare quality products and find real savings on all sorts of van, courier and truck insurance.

References:

Van pricing data, Q4 2024 – https://www.quotezone.co.uk/van-insurance/guides/how-much-is-van-insurance

Data from a Freedom of Information request in May 2025 which requested both the number of general tool thefts and number of tool thefts specifically from a vehicle in 2023 and 2024. 

Some police forces provided 12 months worth of recent data split over 2023/2024, running from 1st April 2023 – 31st March 2024, recorded in the first two columns below.

(The 27 police forces who responded within the timeframe are recorded in the following table.)