Tradespeople who have been victims of tool theft are having to replace up to £5,000 worth of tools and can lose up to two days of vital earnings, impacting both their professional and personal lives, a Screwfix survey has found.

The survey of 333 Screwfix customers found that 46% of respondents stated they have had their tools stolen, and 39% said they’ve had them stolen at least twice.

When it comes to protecting their tools, the majority of tradespeople said they take measures to keep their tools safe, with the most popular methods being ‘removing tools from the van overnight’ (26%) and ‘installing CCTV’ (18%).

There was also a strong feeling reflected by 56% who believe more should be done to help protect tradespeople’s tools and vans.

One way in which Screwfix is showing its support is through tool marking. Local authorities are hosting events across Screwfix’s 630 stores to help prevent tool theft, driving awareness and providing tips to prevent future thefts.

Matt Compton, Trading Director at Screwfix, said: “This survey shows that our tradespeople are looking for solutions which help them protect their tools and ultimately their livelihood.”