5 tips to minimise theft of tools

The most recent statistics from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (2023-24) show that 2.1% of Australian households (217,600) experienced a break-in and roughly the same number of households reported items stolen from a motor vehicle. On a more granular level, 0.2% of the Australian population (50,700) experienced a robbery.

When it comes to the kind of items potential thieves are on the lookout for, tools and equipment are often high on the list. This is because they are highly portable and can be worth hundreds – if not thousands – of dollars. This makes them lucrative targets for opportunistic thieves.

In Victoria alone, there were 36,125 reports of stolen tools and 37,269 reports of stolen power tools during the financial year 2024-25. The combined estimated value of these stolen tools equalled $81,622,540, with the average value per item being $1,165 for tools and $1,061 for power tools.

As a tradie, your tools are one of the things you rely on to make a living. So it makes sense to do all you can to ensure their protected from thieves.

5 tips to help protect your tools of trade

1. Step up your security

There’s always the option to go the extra mile and install additional security measures to help protect your tools. Things like alarms for your vehicle and portable security cameras can add an extra layer of security to prevent your tools from being stolen.

You could also consider investing in GPS tracking to help keep an eye on your tools. These small, durable, adhesive trackers can help you find your tools if they happen to go walkabout.

2. Label your tools

Investing in a high-quality engraving tool is something you can add to your toolbox of tricks. They can be used to engrave anything from glass, metal and plastic. Having an engraver means you can inscribe your tools with your business name and contact details; so if they are stolen, they can be quickly identified with your ownership details by the police.

If you work on large jobs, there is always a chance that your tools may be mistakenly picked up by someone else. If you have your contact details engraved on them, it’s easy to track them down and find out which ones belong to you.

Combining this tip with a GPS tracker can help you and the police track down your stolen tools, and then prove ownership if and when they’re found.

3. Invest in business insurance

Tool insurance can help to safeguard tradies against claims related to theft, loss or damage of their tools of trade. For example, Portable Equipment insurance (sometimes also known as General Property insurance) is designed to help cover you for loss and damage to your tools and stock due to theft, fire and other perils listed in the wording.

If something were to happen to your tools, there is a risk that you could be looking at a large and unexpected bill to replace or fix them unless you have adequate insurance.

4. Be vigilant

Being vigilant about where you place your tools is another important step you can take when it comes to preventing theft. No matter if you are at home, on a work site or have left your tools in your vehicle, make sure they’re always out of sight.

5. Secure your van or ute

Ensuring your van or ute is properly secured can help to prevent your tools being stolen if this is where you keep them. Most insurance policies (like Portable Equipment insurance) may not cover stolen tools if they’re kept in an unsecured location, such as inside an unlocked car or thrown in the back of a tray. Adding a permanent, lockable toolbox to your vehicle can help to keep your tools out of site and also secure.

6. Keep a look out for suspicious behaviour

You know the saying: “If you see something, say something.” If you see someone you don’t know loitering around a jobsite, or someone who looks out of place hanging around your ute, then don’t just ignore it. Make sure your tools are secured and kept safely out of sight, and check in with your co-workers to see if the person is known to them or not. If things begin to look really suspicious, call the police.

Protecting your tools is a fulltime responsibility

Being aware of where your tools are, making sure they are marked with your details and always locked up when not use are some of the key steps you can take to keep them safe.

Getting your tradie tool insurance sorted is the next step you can take to help protect your livelihood.

At BizCover, we’ve been helping tradespeople get their business insurance sorted since 2008. We make it easy for tradies to get fast and hassle-free quotes online from some of Australia’s leading insurance providers. This means you can get covered on the go in minutes. Get a quote today and find out how much you could save on your insurance policies.