Over 3,600 tool thefts reported across Nottinghamshire since 2020

Over 3,600 tool thefts have been reported to Nottinghamshire Police since 2020, according to figures revealed in an FOI attained by builders’ merchant Travis Perkins.

Bassetlaw and Newark & Sherwood have seen the highest number of offences over this period, with 547 and 451 reports respectively. Other hotspots include Ashfield (416 cases) and Mansfield (273 cases).

Most cases involve burglary and vehicle crime, which together account for a large share of offences. Year on year, hundreds of incidents continue to affect tradespeople and businesses across the county.

Despite the scale of offending, many cases end without a suspect being identified, while charges remain limited compared to the total volume of crime.

Carine Jessamine, Group Marketing & Digital Director at Travis Perkins, commented: “Tool theft isn’t just about the cost of replacement. For tradespeople, it means missed jobs, lost income, and huge stress.

That’s why it’s vital to raise awareness of the scale of the problem and encourage everyone to take extra steps to protect their tools.”

Remove the temptation of tools being stolen by always keeping them locked away securely and out of sight whenever they are not being used, for instance.

Thieves will often be deterred from committing a crime in places where there are CCTV surveillance cameras active too. So, take the time to install these security systems around your business premises or property and then park all work vehicles in a well-lit area which has these cameras facing them.

Jessamine added: “We’re committed to supporting the trade community by highlighting these issues and helping raise awareness of the measures that can keep tools safe.”