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Tool theft from vehicles is on the rise – is your insurance cover up to date?
There has been a significant increase in tool theft from vans in the last 12 months according to new research:
- 22% of tradespeople reported tool theft from their vans in the last 12 months[1]
- Tradespeople are 10 times more likely to have tools stolen from their vehicle than from a building site or place or work. [2]
Data from the Metropolitan Police2 has revealed that tool theft from a vehicle has increased by more than 25% in the last 12 months. In London alone, 34,712 tools were stolen between January 2021 and October 2022, with 22,005 of these being powered hand tools.
What would you do if your tools were stolen?
You get up for work, go out to your van ready to head off to that day’s jobs and discover your van has been broken into and your tools have been stolen. Not only is there the damage to your van to sort out, but without your tools, it’s likely that you won’t be able to work until you’ve replaced them.
If you’re not working, you won’t be earning but will still have bills to pay. And your customers may go elsewhere to get the job done.
Without tool cover insurance, you’ll have to replace the items yourself – do you have the funds available to do that?
Tool theft is one of the most frequent claims made by electricians and electrical contractors.
NAPIT Insurance tool insurance covers your equipment 24/7, whether it’s in a vehicle or in a building. Not many insurers include overnight cover in a vehicle, and if they do, there are usually a lot of restrictions.
Our cover is 24/7 in a locked compound (must be standard construction) or in a vehicle providing the following two conditions are met:
- Tools are completely hidden out of sight within the storage compartment, boot or trailer of the unattended vehicle so that the presence of the item cannot be identified;
and - all security measures on the unattended vehicle or trailer are fully operational and activated at the time of the theft;
You can build tool insurance into your existing policy and have the peace of mind that if your kit were damaged or stolen, you will receive the support to replace your kit as quickly as possible.
Don’t get caught out by being underinsured
[1] Research conducted by OnePoll for Direct Line among a nationally representative sample of 500 tradespeople who drive a van, between 31 March and 5 April 2023.
[2] Tool Theft in London 2022 report
It’s important to make sure you have cover for all the tools you have – and for the right amount. If you don’t insure the full value of your tools and equipment, regardless if where they are stored, it can affect the amount paid out in the event of a claim.
Talk to us today to find out more about tool cover for electrical contractors.
