How do you protect your tools from been stolen?

[LukeD]

I have a habit of DIY engraving my initials and phone number on just about everything .
I spray parts of big stuff so its easy to see if its "moving" . I keep records and i know where to go "looking" in London for stolen tools at markets etc .

last problem was a git trying to swap my nice new 18v Makita batteries over for his one year old ones. He even thought he was getting away with it until i asked him how come he has the same initials as me engraved on the side of them !

I now tend to drop off big stuff and use a small car for day to day. Vans etc just seem to be robbed all the time. Estate cars seem to be popular now as you not so 'trade"


would be nice if FLUKE etc could offer a service where you program in your details to your meter and a code. until the code is entered your details come up on start up

 

[timo1]

You can list valuable items serial numbers on this site:

www.immobilise.com

it will help re-unite owners with property if it gets recovered by the Police as many items are recovered but owners never traced. Worth a look.

 

[accordfire]

I keep a nasty, underfed Rottweiller in the car.

Seriously, it's one of the reasons we don't use vans - other than one for big stock items mostly. We don't sign-write either.

That said, there's no telling because the sum in London will screw anything with wheels on it - sure they get off on the sound of breaking glass sometimes - even in "allegedly" secure car parks in places like Mayfair.

I had a Focus Estate emptied one night while I was merrily supping on God's Reward in the adjacent public refreshment facility. The upside of that was being a country pub, the thirty or so tradesmen in the pub, some of whom had also been done, and I knew exactly which "temporary" site to visit to ensure the return of most of it.....which was all, again mostly, residing in a flat bed transit. Good night.

The down side is it sets you up as a target for the future. That lot seem willing to take a beating on the one night, and spend their time going after you one at a time. One of the plumbers got taken out on a job - did his legs permanently, although the ones that did that are still doing time now, it got messy for a while. Three of theirs got done in a pub two nights after, and oddly, the pub phone wasn't working until about ten minutes after.......

The best the council and old bill were able to do was to move the rest on, but that took a year.

So, yes, most of the guys I know take everything out at night, and reload in the morning. Most I know also have CCTV of some type too - some in the Vehicle, and others on the house where they can see their motors. All recording.

As for marking tools, we tend to use tamper proof labels - shiny things that you can have printed, but which break apart when you try to remove them. Has come in handy once or twice on and off sites. Like these here.

 

[Marvo]

You guys are painting a pretty bleak picture of what sounds like a massive crime wave. I use a car for work with no extra security measures. There is just a postcard sized company name and logo on the back window. I carry mostly PLC equipment, 3x laptops and a few nice testers and a data acquisition unit.

When I first set up my business I tried to insure the equipment in the car but they wanted an annual premium of one third of the equipment replacement value. I said no and didn't insure. Touch wood that was 19 years ago and I've never had any theft. I don't take anything out of my car at night, it just parks outside in my driveway. Even in the town centre or on new installation sites I've never had a problem, neither have I heard of any of my colleagues getting stuff stolen. Maybe we're just lucky, I've never had a break in at home either.

 

[prideofengland]

Yes I also unload tools, drills and test kit every night. Once in the garage the Apprentices Red and Blue protect them.
http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g389/ttimengland/Blue.jpg

 

[pritch]

I wrote my phone number on the inside battery comparment of a 18v dewalt drill the once. One day I woke to find the van door open and the dewalt gone.After about 8 weeks on a saturday night I had a withheld number call my phone, when I answered this guy held my drill up to the phone and pulled the trigger spinning the chuck and said " remember this noise mate,? this is the drill I nicked out of your van" he then starting laughing and put the phone down. I really wish I had some plastic explosive in that drill and could of detonated it with my receiver and blew his head all over his chavy **** tip flat.

 

[pennywise]

I wrote my phone number on the inside battery comparment of a 18v dewalt drill the once. One day I woke to find the van door open and the dewalt gone.After about 8 weeks on a saturday night I had a withheld number call my phone, when I answered this guy held my drill up to the phone and pulled the trigger spinning the chuck and said " remember this noise mate,? this is the drill I nicked out of your van" he then starting laughing and put the phone down. I really wish I had some plastic explosive in that drill and could of detonated it with my receiver and blew his head all over his chavy **** tip flat.

If it had been me, would have just told him it weren't mine anyway nicked it the previous week, take the wind out of he sails a bit

 

[johnnymacc]

i second the rotty response,keep it in my gated garden padlock on gate security lights and two daft staffys

 

[Sav]

I put those security locks on my van. They are discreet, but have a big lock that goes up and down inside the side dioors and the same thing on the rear ones. This and the bulkhead and factory alarm and deadlock system, helps I think (Renault Trafic).
I always take out my tester though and leave it at home.
I better go and check, just to be on the safe side !!!!!
Sav
P.S If that fails, I also have a carboard cut out of the mother in law in the back, that will definately do the trick !!

 

[rocker]

Do any of you seriously empty your van after a days work?

Every night mate. I've been stung myself, all my gear was in my locked car which was in a locked garage. now I unload and remove everything every night, sometimes it's knackering but you get used to it. My garage is now alarmed up and has even more locks on it... they wouldn't get away with anything if they tried it on again but I'd still like to catch the toerags...... it's coming up to 4 months since I was done so I reckon they'll be coming back soon, new tools and all that. In fact I'm thinking of getting hold of a few empty cases and sticking a few bricks and a GSM tracker in there. Not bothered about calling the rozzers but I wouldn't mind introducing the little sods to Mr Axe Handle. Anyone know where I can get old empty tool cases on the cheap?

I know carting your tools up the road could be a nightmare but it's only really a matter of time before you'll wish you'd had. Can't you just double park with the hazards on for two minutes, shunt it all inside your front door and then park it?

 

[rocker]

I wrote my phone number on the inside battery comparment of a 18v dewalt drill the once. One day I woke to find the van door open and the dewalt gone.After about 8 weeks on a saturday night I had a withheld number call my phone, when I answered this guy held my drill up to the phone and pulled the trigger spinning the chuck and said " remember this noise mate,? this is the drill I nicked out of your van" he then starting laughing and put the phone down. I really wish I had some plastic explosive in that drill and could of detonated it with my receiver and blew his head all over his chavy **** tip flat.

I would have found that ****er. I don't know how but I would have found him and I would have served him his own teeth. I'm getting angry just thinking about it.

 

[coxy84]

abit off subject, i spent about a hour on monday morning looking for my van keys, i trashed my house and shed looking for them, in the end i found them in the ignition in the van, i must have been tired after work last friday!

thank god i live in mid wales!

 

[Strickers]

My battery power tools are all hilti and i have a key fob to charge all the batteries. Doesn't stop them being stolen but i'll feel better knowing that they can't be used.

 

[BLBelfast]

I know carting your tools up the road could be a nightmare but it's only really a matter of time before you'll wish you'd had. Can't you just double park with the hazards on for two minutes, shunt it all inside your front door and then park it?

Taken your advice mate. These stories are scaring me

Just went down and lifted my toolbox, sds, battery drill and kangoo inside. The rest, bar the ladders, are either not expensive or knackered anyway. Took me 3 minutes and will probably sleep sounder tonight.

 

[saveloy]

Just a little advice to anyone who has been robbed, if you don't know. Beware that these scummy bottom feeders may well have 2nd go shortly after nicking your tools for the first time, knowing full well that the victim will have gone out and bought a whole load of new tools to carry on with. It's happened to a few blokes round here!!

 

[LukeD]

I wrote my phone number on the inside battery comparment of a 18v dewalt drill the once. One day I woke to find the van door open and the dewalt gone.After about 8 weeks on a saturday night I had a withheld number call my phone, when I answered this guy held my drill up to the phone and pulled the trigger spinning the chuck and said " remember this noise mate,? this is the drill I nicked out of your van" he then starting laughing and put the phone down. I really wish I had some plastic explosive in that drill and could of detonated it with my receiver and blew his head all over his chavy **** tip flat.

Clint ****inh Eastwood stole your drill?

I use our Golf more than the landcruiser. Clients prefer it outside their homes etc . Smaller and less likely to be robbed. I drive down after work to drop off big stuff etc

There was a really good bespoke kitchen fitter i know that sprayed £4k ;s worth of festool bright dayglow pink , cases etc all. His attitude was its a lot harder to shift stuff like this!!