Six in ten tradespeople said they have been approached by or seen someone they suspected was selling stolen second-hand tools, in latest research by Direct Line business insurance.
Just over a quarter encountered them on a website, social media or app selling second-hand goods, while one in five said the person selling the tools was a friend.
The overwhelming majority, 91%, immediately refused to buy the tools, Direct Line found. Just under one quarter notified a trade authority while 23% informed the police.
These findings hammered home the scale of tool theft across the country, which can have costly consequences for tradespeople, Direct Line said.
Nearly half, 46%, of tradespeople, “worry frequently” about the problem and 81% describe themselves as “alert” when it comes to protecting their equipment against theft.
Jonny McHugh, SME business manager at Direct Line, added: “Our research demonstrates how the scale and frequency of tool theft is partly fuelled by the demand for cheap second-hand tools which are quick to source. Tool theft is hugely disruptive and often has a devastating impact on tradespeople’s ability to work and livelihoods.
“Tradespeople can help to protect themselves by ensuring they lock tools away securely and take precautions when parking their vehicles. It is also important that they invest in comprehensive insurance cover to help ensure that they are not hit hard in the pocket if their equipment is stolen.
“At Direct Line business insurance, our Tools Essentials offering helps to shield tradespeople from costly setbacks caused by the theft of essential equipment. The service helps tradespeople replace their essential tools within 24 hours so that they can get back to work quickly, minimising disruption.”