Tool thefts from vans continues to rise
Wed, 01 Oct 2025
Tool theft from UK van drivers is on the up, with more than a quarter of drivers falling victim to the crime in 2024 – up from 19% the year before.
The survey of 1000 van drivers by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles found that that the value of stolen tools rose by over 40%, averaging £2433 last year.
A quarter of incidences of tool theft were valued at £3500 and above – compared with 10% exceeding that value in 2023.
As a result, the company estimates that UK businesses will face a £3.5 billion bill in stolen equipment,
On top of the financial burden, the majority (86%) of tool theft victims were forced to take unplanned downtime while they restocked their vans and repaired locks, resulting in an average of 3.97 days off work.
One in five had to take over a week off work in 2024, compared with 1.9 days the year before, highlighting the significant disruption that the increase in tool theft is bringing.
With 36% of survey respondents identifying the cost of living crisis as a major contributor, this increase in tool theft comes at a time when UK businesses are already feeling the squeeze.
What’s more, van drivers who fall victim to tool theft can also find themselves at risk of an increase in future insurance premiums, meaning the financial implications can go far beyond the cost of replacing stolen tools.
"Tool theft remains a huge issue for van drivers and businesses in the UK, and it’s concerning to see the scale continuing to rise. We encourage van drivers to take extra precautions, ensuring tools are always well secured and vehicles parked in well-lit, CCTV-monitored areas, so that tradespeople can focus on what really matters," says John Ricardo-Neto, Head of Product Planning at Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles.
