West Yorkshire records more than 2,000 tool thefts in one year - as 'organised crime' blamed
There were around 183 tool thefts every month
Traders’ tools were stolen more than 2,000 times across West Yorkshire last year, figures show.
A total of 2,194 tool thefts were recorded by West Yorkshire Police in 2025, based on its response to a Freedom of Information request by Aviva, shared with the BBC Shared Data Unit.
That works out to an average of just under 183 tool thefts every month.
Across the UK, tool theft was recorded every 20 minutes in the same period, with at least 26,164 reports across the year.
Organised crime groups and "chancers" were behind the crimes, according to Labour MP Amanda Martin, who is calling for her Government to do more to help.
The Home Office said it was "working with the police to tackle and prevent tool theft to protect more hardworking tradespeople who rely on their tools to earn a living".
It added: “We have also boosted neighbourhood policing with more than 3,800 additional neighbourhood officers in roles and investing a historic £18.5bn in police force funding.”
The average value of an insurance claim for tool theft in 2025 was £4,206, according to Direct Line for Business insurers.
Businesses with physical stores often require anyone selling goods to provide ID and for transactions to be recorded on CCTV, with other measures including signed undertakings to confirm they can legally sell an item and staff making checks for missing, removed or obscured serial numbers.
Online retailers have published terms and conditions saying they do not accept stolen goods and encourage users to report suspicions if they believe items listed for sale are stolen.
A Home Office spokesperson added it was working with industry and AI to tackle the sale of stolen goods.
Gareth Powley, a senior technical underwriter at Aviva and Direct Line for Business insurance, said it had a "new for old" basis policy.
He said: "The worst thing you want when you have to claim is to be trying to find second-hand tools or to have that shortfall. It's really important to look at the underlying cover you're buying.
"Maybe a cheap policy isn't as good as one providing more full cover."
Businesses can also add a liquid DNA watermark to their tools - which is not clear to the naked eye but glows brightly under UV light - to help trace them and prove their ownership if they are stolen.
Sgt Dave Catlow, from the National Business Crime Centre, is overseeing a clampdown on tool theft and said organised crime groups were responsible for a large proportion.
Stolen tools were being moved around the UK for resale, as well as abroad, he said.