As a workman, your tools and supplies are a vital part of your livelihood, and without them, it’s likely you wouldn’t be able to continue with your working day. After spending a large amount of your hard-earned cash on equipment, it can put you back substantially if they’re stolen from you.
Simply Business released the statistics of their recent survey which confirms 1 in 3 of the people they spoke to were victims of theft. There has since been a campaign to stamp out tool theft, but it’s still a slow process. We’ve put together some of our top tips for keeping your tools safe and secure.
1. Track your items
One of the safest ways to keep your items secure is to have their location tracked at all times. If you display the fact that your tools are tracked, thieves are likely going to avoid the plot, because it’ll come with more risks than if they weren’t. Not only can you find your tools easily if they do get stolen, but it’ll give the police and insurance companies more to go on, enabling them to find the thieves. There are multiple options when it comes to the GPS system, including tool, vehicle and plant tracking.
2. Have a logbook
A lot of the time, tools can be misplaced because someone has borrowed them. While lending your tools out to colleagues may be an essential part of the practice at times, it’s worth creating a logbook so if something goes missing, you can trace it to the last person who signed it out. Most of the time, it may be a case of forgetting to sign it back in, and as a result, saves a lot of aggravation.
3. Hide valuables
Some of the top tips for keeping your home safe will coincide with your tools too, such as hiding the valuables. The Sun encourages people to keep things hidden, even if it’s just an empty box. If boxes are branded, people are likely to have an idea what’s inside them, and it’ll encourage them to take it – particularly if they’re expensive. Keep everything out of sight and make it seem as though you leave the workplace empty in the evenings.
4. Install lighting
Keeping your construction site will help keep criminals away because they’re more likely to be spotted. Most criminals will want an easy getaway, so dark areas with available access will be a hotspot for them. With lights covering the area, it could also suggest that people are still working, which will keep people away as many of them won’t want to take the risk.
5. Erect a fence
Sometimes it’s the basic things that will keep criminals out of your belongings, such as building a simple fence. Particularly a taller one, because it takes more effort to climb over it. Most thieves are opportunists, and will only break in if it’s accessible. Therefore, if you make it more difficult to break-in, it’s likely they’ll avoid it at all costs.
While our top tips should deter criminals from your worksite, it doesn’t guarantee that you won’t face a break-in throughout your career. The safest way to keep tool theft from impacting your work life is to track them, as it’ll make it easier to get them back.
