Tradespeople are being targeted by organised criminal groups moving stolen equipment across Britain and overseas, police have warned, as new figures show Northamptonshire recorded almost one tool theft a day during 2025.
Data obtained through Freedom of Information requests by insurer Aviva found that Northamptonshire Police recorded 358 tool thefts during the calendar year. The figures, supplied to the BBC Shared Data Unit, cover the county as a whole and do not provide a separate total for West Northamptonshire.
The monthly pattern shows a marked variation in the number of offences recorded. March was the worst month, with 43 thefts, followed by April with 41. December recorded the lowest monthly figure, at 16.
A national crime affecting livelihoods
The Northamptonshire figures form part of a wider picture of equipment theft affecting workers who rely on their tools to earn a living. Nationally, at least 26,164 tool thefts were recorded during 2025, equivalent to one offence every 20 minutes.
That figure is not a complete UK total. Only 30 of the country’s 45 police forces supplied data, meaning the actual number of recorded offences is likely to be higher. The figures also indicate the scale of the challenge facing builders, plumbers and other tradespeople whose ability to work can be immediately affected when equipment is taken.
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Northamptonshire thefts in 2025 | 358 |
| Highest local month | March: 43 |
| Lowest local month | December: 16 |
| Minimum recorded nationally | 26,164 |
| Police forces providing national data | 30 of 45 |
Police trace movement of stolen equipment
Sergeant Dave Catlow, who has been seconded from the Metropolitan Police to the National Business Crime Centre, is overseeing work to tackle the problem. He said police were seeing organised groups operating along established routes and moving activity when enforcement efforts were under way.
“It's a huge, huge problem. We are seeing organised criminal groups working the tool theft routes and seeing displacement as well when [police] activity is going on.”
According to Sergeant Catlow, stolen tools are being transported around Britain and overseas for resale. Police are also targeting the sale of suspected stolen equipment at car boot sales, placing attention not only on the initial thefts but on the networks and markets that allow the goods to be redistributed.
The consequences for victims can go beyond the cost of replacing a drill, saw or other piece of equipment. Tradespeople may be unable to take on jobs while their tools are missing, with the resulting loss of income adding to the immediate financial damage. Direct Line for Business said the average value of a tool theft insurance claim in 2025 was £4,206.60.
Calls for stronger protection and accountability
Gareth Powley, a senior technical underwriter at Aviva and Direct Line for Business, urged tradespeople to examine their insurance policies and consider marking equipment. Clear identification could help establish ownership if tools are recovered after a theft.
- Check that insurance cover reflects the value of equipment used for work.
- Consider marking tools to make ownership easier to establish.
- Report stolen equipment so police can identify movement and resale patterns.
A Home Office spokesperson said the Government was working with police to prevent tool theft and protect tradespeople who depend on their equipment. The department also said it was working with industry to disrupt the resale of stolen goods, including sales through online marketplaces.
The figures leave a substantial gap between the crime being experienced by victims and the national picture that can be measured. With data available from only two-thirds of police forces, the recorded total is a minimum rather than a final account. For investigators, the challenge is to disrupt the routes described by police; for tradespeople, every stolen tool can represent both a replacement bill and time unable to work.
