Nearly a quarter of tool theft incidents go unreported, the carpentry sector has the largest gender gap and brick deliveries drop in February
Nearly a quarter of tool thefts go unreported to the police — that’s according to research from Direct Line Business Insurance.
With low conviction rates and little chance of recovering tools, tradespeople say they don’t contact the police because “nothing gets done”.
The new figures undermine initial reports that cases of tool theft dropped in 2025.
Nearly three-quarters of tradespeople have been victims of tool theft, while 32% report being raided by thieves more than once.
---
The carpentry sector has the largest gender gap in the construction sector, claims research from metals4U.
Overall, women make up 15.8% of the construction workforce, but only 1.1% of chippies are female.
The report also found that just 1.7% of electricians and 2% of plumbers were women.
The painting and decorating trade had the highest proportion of female tradespeople, at just over 5%.
---
UK brick deliveries dropped by 21% in February, suggesting a slow start for house builders at the start of the year.
Typically, brick deliveries rise in the opening months of the year, as builders prepare for the better weather.
Noble Francis, economics director with the CPA, described the drop as concerning.
---
To listen to the construction news, please click below
