Tackling theft of tradespeople’s tools

Margaret Mullane MP has stepped up the campaign to get to grips with the level of thefts of tools from tradespeople, often from their vans. So many Dagenham and Rainham residents depend for their living on their work tools, so the crime of theft of these tools has a crippling effect on these trades men and women.

In Parliament Margaret is a co-sponsor of the Theft of Tools of Trade (Sentencing) Bill introduced by Labour MP, Amanda Martin. This aims to make a specific crime of stealing the tools of workers. The Members of Parliament supporting this Ten Minute Rule Bill will be lobbying Government to adopt the proposal.

As well as this action, Margaret has been following through locally to shut down this crime that impacts so severely on plumbers, electricians and other workers in the building trades. Margaret met with Trades United representatives on 23 January to learn of the problems faced due to these crimes. Trades United is a campaigning group around theft from vans and

carry out tool marking events with Police and businesses such as Wickes and Toolstation.

 In 2023 across the UK there were 44,514 reports to the Police of theft of tools and 78% of tradespeople nationally have experienced this crime.

In addition to this Margaret has written to Police chiefs in Barking and Dagenham and Havering to ask:

·        how many tool thefts have been reported across the local Police area in the last six months

·         how many call outs have the police attended

·         how many tools have been recovered

Trades United told Margaret that so many of the stolen tools end up at car boot sales and often the desperate victims of the crimes are reduced to going to these to buy replacement equipment so that they can do their jobs.

Margaret said “I just don’t think anywhere near enough is being done to counter this crime. These thefts are depriving working people of earning a living, that’s why I am acting in Parliament to support this Bill to crack down on these criminals.

It’s also why I have taken the issue up with the Borough Commanders and have chased Barking and Dagenham and Havering Councils on what action their Trading Standards teams are taking in monitoring car boot sales to check on tools being sold at these gatherings.”

Margaret added “Frankly, I am not satisfied with the situation so a member of my Labour team and I will be going to local car boot sales to see for ourselves and will be reporting to the Police and Trading Standards so that action can be taken against suspected perpetrators.”