Read on to find out what happened and why more needs to be done to increase deterrents for crimes like tool theft.

Bret Bradford is a landscape gardener and builder from Telford in the West Midlands. He had his tools stolen while volunteering for DIY SOS to help someone suffering from cancer.

Two weeks before this, Bret lost his dad and sister to cancer in the same week.

This isn’t the first time Bret has been a victim of tool theft. He estimates that he’s had his tools stolen up to 20 times, losing in the region of £30,000.

Not only has Bret lost time and money due to tool theft, he’s also had irreplaceable family tools stolen.

In the video, produced in partnership with On The Tools, Bret discusses the constant threat of tool theft and the impact it has on both his business and family life.

'Limited deterrents means the crime will not go away'

Our research shows that nearly four in five tradespeople have experienced tool theft, at an estimated £2.8 billion cost to the industry.

The Tradespeople Against Tool Theft whitepaper, created in partnership with On The Tools, also revealed:

only one per cent of tradespeople’s stolen tools were recovered

almost two in five of tradespeople have had tools stolen from outside their home

tool theft costs tradespeople an average of £4,470

39 per cent of tradespeople agreed that having tools stolen has had a ‘strong impact’ on their mental health.

Bret said that it’s important to emphaisse the impact tool theft has on the individual.

“If the criminal can understand what people have to go through to get to this point - building the business up over 30 years - then they will understand that what they are doing can destroy everything.

“Deterrents are limited and I think the way it is handled is too soft, which means the crime will not go away. The crime is paying. We have to combat tool theft - we have to beat it and stamp it out,” he said.