Central Queensland tradies are being urged to lock up their livelihood following a surge in tool thefts.
More than 25,000 tools were stolen across Queensland in the last financial year and 1,283 were reunited with their owners.
It’s not just a state issue, with Capricornia police also reporting an increase in tool theft within the district recently.
QPS has now launched a new crime prevention initiative to help tradies, contractors and tool owners keep their gear safe from opportunistic thieves.
As part of the initiative, QPS is working directly with tradies and tool owners to promote prevention and identification strategies to boost the chances of stolen tools being traced back to their rightful owners.
Most regularly stolen items include hand tools, household power tools, trade equipment and commercial power tools.
Detective Senior Sergeant Ken Rogers, reiterated the importance of tool theft prevention strategies to deter would-be offenders.
“We know for our tradies and contractors, a stolen drill or saw isn’t just a missing item, but it can mean a day’s work lost, jobs pushed back, and reputation with clients,” Detective Senior Sergeant Rogers said.
“Most offenders are opportunistic and we’ve found that engravings, visible locks and alarms make a big difference in deterring theft.
“The Queensland Police Service is committed to holding offenders to account and returning stolen property where possible, but prevention is the best protection.”
Police are urging tool owners to take simple steps to protect their gear:
- Lock up your tools: Remove or secure valuable tools – keep them out of sight and behind locked doors. If storing tools in a vehicle, use a fixed locked toolbox with visible locks to deter thieves.
- Mark your tools with unique identification details and record them: Marking and engraving tools with names or licence details deters theft as it makes them harder to resell and easier for police to return if stolen. Record details such as the make and model of the tools and take photos for easy identification if stolen.
- Secure your work vehicles: Always lock vehicles and secure all windows including the sunroof when it is unattended. Park vehicles and trailers off the street, in well-lit areas or in places covered by CCTV.
- Assess your security: Consider installing an anti-theft audible alarm system to storage compartments, toolboxes and trailers – installing CCTV to monitor where tools are stored – hiding trackers in high value items.
- Look out for suspicious behaviour: Whether at home or on-the-job site, keep an eye out for suspicious behaviour, for example, people loitering around construction sites or vehicles. If you notice anything, make a record of it and report it. If your tools have been stolen, report it to police immediately via our stolen property form at police.qld.gov.au or contact Policelink on 131 444 for assistance.
