Screwfix, Toolstation and the like should offer to mark up a tool at the point of sale. Wouldn't take a minute. Alternatively they could ask manufacturers, wholesalers to supply tools already indelibly marked and then just assign the mark to the purchaser, again at the point of sale, in a national database like we see with mobile phones.
More stolen tools = more profit for manufacturers and wholesalers. Why invest in tool theft prevention and reduce sale. Good tools last for a long time, had dewalt hammer drill for 7 years with no intention to buy a new one, only when my van was robbed had to buy a new one.
@@Modestas_Gardziuthis is the exact reason phone snatchings are a thing. They can and should be remotely bricked, but then there's be no thefts and far less sales given phones can last a very long time nowadays.
@@samsonacc8081 there are already RFID tags in the handles of many tools. They could be used, but aren't for "US". My money is always on - make it look shit , mark it, tag it. write "will never be sold" & stolen from (postcode)" and most importantly LOCK UP ! then write "Big Baz's dung-livery" / dead horse collection. on your van with anything worth something in. super annoying that people steal tools, when most trade-ies would give you their old drill for free, if asked nicely!
I've had my van broken into twice for a total of 30k of tools plus vehicle damage plus loss of earnings. Had cctv footage of 1 and a witness of the other , police never attended, never took an official detailed statement from myself or witness and never looked at the cctv footage . I was given a crime reference number for insurance purposes on both occasions and only other contact with the police was to offer victims support counselling . My tools were marked and all tools registered for warranties so had all the serial numbers but the police didn't want them . I don't see what the police are doing to help so I am blaming the police
GM police refused to investigate stolen tools as well as motorcycles that were all marked even though the post mistress witnessed it. GM police also refused to interview the witness
They struggle to lock up people who punch police in the face at air ports so them not investigating tools etc isn’t surprising. Plus most of their times spent scouring the internet for hurtful comments.
They won’t end up in car boot sales if they are marked. The thieves are not that stupid. They might catch new thieves that are just starting out, but the professionals are going to check with an ultra violet light or for anything scratched into the casings. The one bit of advice is if you leave anything worth anything in a motor, it will be stolen in the end. You make sure that your motor is safely alarmed up and put a tracker inside tool cases out of the way. Like an apple tag glued under a bit of foam in the case. If you are lazy you will become a cropper. What is the point of having a few grands worth of tools and for a few quid not protecting them?
If you tag them and tell the police, they still won’t give a shit. Unless you describe the ethnicity of the thief and they will find a prison cell for 🫵 not them.
I mark all my tools with my own DNA, also glows on ultraviolet, its unique and none of my coworkes even dare to touch my tools now because they seen me do it.
It is nice to see the police trying to do something after the event. Marking is a very good idea. This has been pushed for many years, but never really become the norm unfortunately. The tool registration schemes are also good in this. I have tool serial numbers logged to me through various manufacturer websites for warranty etc. But against your previous point, I still have to say this. Having had my vehicle broken into and tools stolen. This is a crime, and depending on the value stolen, could be a significant crime. Yet in my case when I tried to report the theft to two police stations. One didn't want to know. And the other gave me a crime number report for insurance. Wouldn't even get off their arse to come and take a look. And this is a common problem. There may have been no fingerprints, or any way of recording the thief. But if you don't look, you won't ever know. These are devastating crimes to a tradie, a little respect of that from the police would help. Everything for their job is provided. I have to buy my own.
I'm very positive about marking tools, especially for tradesmen who are very vulnerable to break-in & casual thefts off sites. I will mark up my home tools, but they are probably less of a target. I'm glad you're doing this. Motorbike & bicycle theft is another major issue.
The first thing I thought was that everyone is blaming everyone else and there it was Roger, you said it. All my equipment was marked, it didn't matter, it was never seen again. £10k gone and I spiralled into alcoholism and depression I was so fed up. I blamed myself and the Police were of no use whatsoever. They even said they'd seen some stuff on the move on camera, but never bothered to follow it up and wouldn't tell me where it was so I could could hire a private detective. All they want to do is give you a crime number. I hate Americans, but I feel like moving there and getting myself some firearms to protect myself because our laws do nothing really. More pressure needs to be put on the vendors of the tools in the first place, they're the ones who should be acting, but they don't because it means more sales for them.
Well said by both of you. I hear you.... now upgrading my tagging. I heat weld ( brand) my mark into all my tools and batteries just in case someone working close to me makes a mistake identifying his tools as mine! Happens often when you have good tools and look after them! I keep my Festool tools hidden from everyone!
Yes mark all your tools, register to prove their yours, but I'd also hide an airtag in one of them. Unfortunately though, my experience is that the police won't do a thing even if you pinpoint an address. Sad state of affairs.
@@Jacky5299 Not the drill, but someone who's stolen your tools will have stolen them all together. If you stash it in your recip you'll be able to see where your tools are.
we had our yard cleaned out a few years ago. one of our generators turned up on ebay locally a few weeks later. The cops recovered it, the guy admitted he thought it might be stolen because he bought it very cheep from a gentleman out the back of a white transit. To us that seemed like a clear case of handling stolen goods, the cops just gave him a talking to and let him go!
I've said this before, engrave your tools allover with a dremel in difficult places. If you don't you can't complain when they get nicked. Everyone I know has been done
@@KevinAmatt issue a receipt? I personally have rarely sold any of my trade tools. I wear them out..I was cleaned out in broad daylight. The engraved tools led to a prosecution. It ain't much but it's better than nothing.
Thanks for This Roger - Definitely Going to Buy & Mark with This DNA Now...! Will share this Video with everyone I know and I'll try to contact Garda here as well to Discuss This exact System 👊 Thank You for What You Doing Roger 🙏🙏🙏 Cheers from Dublin 👋
THE POLICE DONT TO THEFT FROM VEHICLES!!! so when do we get the chance to give a list of the tools we have had stolen? Last time I had my tools stolen from my van, it was broad daylight, 10am, I rand 111, I was on hold for 50 minutes! Then the call dropped! For the small guy, it's not worth insuring your tools! The high premiums and small print clauses make claiming a slow difficult experience, and will only increase next years insurance premium. The consequences of being convicted of theft, are far less than the consequences of being a victim of theft! The government have offered our police officers up as scape goats, Criminals thrive while police officers are handcuffed by corrupt politicians.
So many people are saying naughty things online which might hurt your feelings these days, which must take priority over the rapes, thefts and murders you understand.
I had 5k’s worth of power tools and surveying equipment stolen out of my van. Dorset police said that because nobody was in danger they wouldn’t attend. Gave me a crime number and that was it. When I found out who had done it Dorset police said it was my word against his and it wouldn’t wash in court and no point in perusing it.
They should make it law that when i tool is purchased the seller must register the buyers details and tool serial number with the manufacturer, this would also help with any warranty claims for faulty tools.
When you buy a tool you should always keep the receipt, note the serial numbers and photograph the tool and it's case showing any security markings you have applied. This will assist with your insurance claim and help the police to i.d. your tools if they are recovered. I keep this info in a file and I staple a copy into the tools instruction manual (which I keep separate from the tool). I also have the best anti theft deterrent/burglar alarm known to man....the kind with a waggy tail and big, gnarly nashers!
Many tools already have serial numbers but the police aren't interested in taking the numbers of stolen tools, just want to give you a crime reference number.
With the exception of the chainsaws that's a big pile of junk on the floor. I wonder where all the good gear has gone, Festool etc? I say this as someone that was turned over this year, all my expensive gear, nail guns, 54v platform etc disappeared, although marked with my name and number. I did get a call from the Police regarding my 15 year old Dewalt radio recovered from my theft found in an estimated £500k haul in Cranbrook in Kent. As grateful as I was that this was recovered (although I've not got it back yet...) I still wonder why only the impact drivers and combi drills make it to boot fairs. I can only assume the top end stuff goes abroad.
I mark most of my tools, sometimes i even open them up and mark them with both ink and engravings. The most expensive ones i take photos of the model and serial numbers and if they get damaged i take photos of distinguishable marks.
My power tools have stickers and flecks of spray paint, they look distinctly mine and in a sort of trashy punked way that I think likely devalues them a bit
Even though it is not that much of a deterrent, every tool I buy gets thoroughly marked with my unique colour scheme and initial in dayglo before it goes on tour. This mostly prevents me from accidentally grabbing someone else's stuff, which is way more embarrassing than losing a pair of pliers or a screwdriver every now and then, and it really helps keep track of my tools when on the job. Every serial number goes on the list, and all powertools gets registered for warranty and service, and proof of purchase along with the barcodes go in the administration. Of course no amount of marking will prevent your entire service vehicle with everything in it from being hoisted on a flatbed and somehow shipped to Bulgaria.
What vehicle was it that got lifted on a flatbed, maybe we can find help for you? Did you know for sure it went to Bulgaria? Flatbed with a specific van on board would be quite easy to track in the first 24 to 48 hrs after robbery.
Not sure@@lksf9820 but he does seem to be looking for tips on how to do the flatbed heist better. His main worry seems to be how a vehicle might be tracked. People need to know this stuff when they write their novels and movie scripts. It's not all bad. 😉
@@samsonacc8081 It was a while ago (years), fortunately I had some insurance, but it was quite the setback. I only got notified because local police found a whole yard full and were kind enough to pass along some numbers to insurance companies.
I use smart water on all mine. Place in a few different places. Also scribe my postcode in a discreet area. Had my van broken into twice. First time they cleared it out. Second time there wasn't much but think they got disturbed and didn't take anything. One of the systems they use is to park their van tight up next to yours and the guy in the back just opens the sliding door to attack your locks. That way they don't even have to get out of their vehicle and can drive off quickly without even the risk of getting grabbed or seen.
@@kempshott I got mine free too. A rep from police came knocking on doors for householders to mark up their stuff. Although I wouldn't mark up as shown in this video. That makes it obvious for the thief that it needs to be removed. I dab in discrete areas.
The Police do their best with very limited resources. Judging by several comments on this post. Many people just do not help themselves at all. With the attitudes of people commenting, I am not surprised the Police have no enthusiasm to investigate this type of crime.
No they don't actually do anything. All they want to do is record a crime happened for statistics. They will not help you recover your tools, ever, even if you do 99.9% of the work.
No they don't.... Took them 2 weeks to contact me after my van was emptied, even though they were phoned during the crime, given videos of the culprits and their vehicle (including licence plate). Had been going on for months in my area. Told later by them they knew who did it, but case closed (they couldn't be arsed to do anything about it), no resources. The police are completely useless at everything other than cracking down on peaceful legal protests/demonstrations.
Dont have the "enthusiasm"? They accept their salary with enthusiasm... They are paid to prevent, investigate and detect crime. Enthusiasm is not part of the job description mate.
I etch, sharpie pen and UV my house number and postcode on everything but I think the game changer is smart warter which marks everything with a DNA linked back to me. I also have a spread sheet which lists date of purchase, serial number etc - I'll get me anarack
I just try to keep an electronic copy of the sale receipt and record the serial number where possible. Will not stop theft but does make proof of ownership easier. Tools are expensive, don’t make it easy for thieves. Keep them secure whenever possible. Don’t have them visible in vehicles when leaving unattended. Secure your vehicle. Keep tools out of sight in tool boxes or covered. Many thefts are opportunistic. Thief sees a likely thing to take and may attempt to do so.
Roger, what about the manufacturers? If we buy a tool and register it for warranty, that is at least a resource the Police could use towards establishing legitimate ownership. I am not suggesting this as the solution, just part of it. I like the DNA type marking system too.
@@dougsaunders8109 I tried to register my Dewalt tools, for the 3 year warranty and the website didn't work. I submitted a support ticket and I never heard back, it didn't matter how much I chased them.
Raiding boot sales is just lots of paperwork. The sellers can all claim they bought them innocently from someone else. The only way is to set up bait vans. Then you have them bang to rights and bust them at source. They're not just being sold at boot sales. Many are piled up in containers and shipped abroad.
If there's no proof that they are stolen why are they seizing them? I could put my name, address, telephone number and blood group on my tools and the incompetent plod wouldn't know how to return the stuff, if they ever found it in the first place.
I used to use Smartwater years ago. The main downside was that if the police suspected the gear was yours, you had to pay quite a bit to get it identified. Would add up if you keep throwing £100+ at inspection’s when it turns out not to be your stuff. Not sure if it’s changed nowadays.
I have marked all my tools with a marker or some with engraver, latter taking a while. I will look into DNA style marking. Just asking, how do you spot the DNA marking when at a car boot? Only asking as uniformed officers turn up how do they show they are nicked on a sunny Sunday?
Back in the day I knew a let’s call him a very talented electrician who was a very talented South London street fighter/ boxer / martial arts kind of dude. Had his tools stolen on site so slept in the site box for over a week waiting for them to come back. Lucky for them they did not he was a a 6 foot 2 16-16 stone muscle ball. Strong as a bull and tough as they come mixed Greek and Irish !
#ToolsReunited excellent idea. Starting out as a Pro-DIYer I have invested in some new powertools of the yellow type upgrading from my old Ryobi One+ system. This is something I am going to actively pursue, loss of tools means loss of income.
Unfortunately a tradesperson needs to work so must purchase replacement tools either from their own pocket or from insurance money (still technically your own pocket!) immediately after the theft. Being reunited with a stolen tool because you marked it 3 months later is pretty useless as you now have a replacement and the only use is for you to sell a marked used tool second hand. The damage has been done to your pocket already. The answer is to catch and punish the perpetrators with enough force to make the whole idea of tool theft not worth it. Can’t ever see that happening I’m afraid
If insurers insist on tools being marked with/by an approved system/method,plus the manufacturers/dealers supporting such initiatives etc.this problem could be constrained/restrained,however,I'm sure the manufacturers are not over concerned as tools have to be replaced,at worst,most tools can be marked with a cheapo engraver,or even, just a soldering iron.
Years ago when I had several thousand pounds worth of tools stolen from my van the police refused to come out even though I was only five hundred metres from the police station. They just gave me a crime number. Luckily I worked for a company at the time and they offered to claim on their insurance and told me to replace my tools on their account . Because I appreciated their offer I looked for the best deals for replacing like for like tools. After giving the insurance company the details and value I was dismayed to hear that the insurance company would only pay 25% of the value because the original tools would be classed as second hand 😮
Yeah, I inquired about tool insurance and they said they want receipts of tools stoled. Like I’d be able to find a receipt of a claw hammer and chisels etc from 25 years ago
on one hand id like to mark tools very visibly but on the other hand i know thieves will just grind the markings off, on the other hand if i mark it at an inconspicuous spot, the police might never find the marking. what to doooo?
The only way to stop tool theft is to only buy new tools. If there is no buyers, there is no market for it. Insurance will cover the cost of replacement with new tools.
I’ve mentioned this before on another of your videos, but it went unnoticed. This is a simple fix, request all manufactures to install “on/off” device within the machine which uses Bluetooth. This Bluetooth device would then be “paired” with an App on a mobile phone. During the “setup” of the new machine a “unique number” would be used to register the device. This unique number would be obtained via the Manufacturer website upon uploading the “original receipt”. Then, the manufacturer and the user would both have a data base in the event of theft. To transfer ownership would be an easy process too, via the website and the app. Anything is possible, its just depends if it’s a priority !!!! The technology is available, but manufacturers need to get on board. If EU politicians can force the industry into producing “generic batteries”, then I am sure they can do this too, it’s people’s livelihood’s we’re talking about, not a battery”. 😊
@@SkillBuilder I am sure one manufacture would implement what I discussed. Being a "brand" these days, is about doing things out of the "norm", or a NEW BRAND starts this idea and therefore the "Corporates" would have to follow, if they're going to get any NEW sales! I would do it, if enough people would buy !!!
I stumbled upon this video, I'm not in the trades. I assume tools stolen from in a van are insured in some way, just like items in a car? How about if insurers stipulated identity marking in order to be covered?
The amount of stolen power and hand tools I've seen on eBay is disgusting. There was a tool bag full to the brim with sparkys hand tools and I told eBay n explained that NOBODY would sell a bag full of brand new tools and told them that their all stolen and nothing come of it. Like they said, nobody buys used tools as all of them are stolen and if I knew someone who had stolen tools then I wouldn't have anything to do with them n explain why.
I saw one of my stolen tools turn up on eBay. It actually still had my name written on it by marker pen. (I couldn't believe they didn't even bother cleaning it off). It was located in a shop in Manchester (I'm in London) so I phoned up the shop, and the bloke was very obliging and said he'd take it off the shelf until it was sorted. I then contacted the officer that originally dealt with the case, and all he was interested in is whether I had the original purchase receipt for the tool, which I didn't, so he did nothing. Good try Roger, but the police really are useless, it doesn't matter how you mark up your tools, they will not recover them. Not now, not ever.
I am sorry to hear about your experience but you can understand that things get thrown out of court all the time and a huge amount of time and money is wasted. I can lay my hands on reveiots going back years so it was a fair question. I know it is frustrating and we should be living in a relatively crime free country but we aren't. I read the other day about the number Albanians now residing in our prisons at the cost of £50K per year for each one. There is a lot to fix in this country but the world is falling apart around us and I do what I can to mitigate the risk to myself whenever i can.
Buying stolen goods = huge fines. Selling stolen tools = huge fines plus lengthy prison sentences, no Sky tv, no visitors, isolation, no mobile phones, and no government benefits for dependents.
I suspect the trouble is tradesmen tend to be insured so get new ones. So once it has happened, they do not want the old ones back. However perhaps insurance companies have more of an interest is dealing with it? Discount on insurance for this genetic marking having been registered with them? Plus while it helps to get the ones selling them, it is those taking them that are the primary criminals.
if for cars is databases, as example carvertical, why its cant be for tools , as minimum for big brands.Anyway private sector can register in manufacturer website for warranty, Registered tools, in database,where everyone can check. and buy with Id proof of ownership
I had a Hitachi drill stolen. Reported it. 3 months later the police called and said they think they have my drill and to attend a police station 40 miles away to look to see if it was mine. I took half a day off work to drive 80 miles round trip only to get there and the police tell me they thought my drill was a dewalt and they didn’t think they had mine. I felt more robbed by the police than I did the thieves 🙄
@@SkillBuilder indeed it does. Mind you if they can’t tell the difference between a hitachi and a dewalt then I doubt they’ve got the inkling to take a battery out to look for an etched code
If we scratch a secret symbol or code into the body of each of our tools the new scheme will be invaluable, but without individual markings I can't see how it would work.
Marking tools then makes them worthless, how can you sell a tool that is marked that you own it? Also if they are registered for the guarantee or warrantee wouldn't that show who owns them?
Just watched this video of Two fifth and a look at the DNA to put on your tools for £65 Once of holiday, I will get it ordered and spend half a day mocking my tools up. Even though my tools are on the manufacturers website, all the serial numbers can be scrubbed off or damaged. The DNA but they can see for less than the price of a good quality drill is no brainer. It’s The Plumber
Tool distributors should offer free marking on tools , insurance companies should require that tools are marked or only 50% of a claim should be honoured, invisible marking will NOT stop thefts
Tool manufacturers are resisting all attempts to have tools marked or registered. The reason is very easy to work out. Invisible marking will stop tools because it makes them harder to sell. If all tools had forensic marking the thieves would be prosecuted for handling stolen goods but as it is the police have no evidence that the tools they seize are stolen.
Most decent brands require registration of the serial number to get the guarantee. Would be great if the police could have easy contact with the manufacturers to check serial numbers with the registered owner. Wouldn't help for tools bought second hand, but better than nothing. Guessing there are probably also data protection issues....
Why aren’t the cops calling it smart water anymore, is it because of the drink brand? When I lived in London years ago the police just handed out smart water free to households to mark their property in an attempt to deter burglaries
I had my tools stolen from the van and had an airtag installed so i could pinpoint where they are . The thief store the tools in a container and the company told me they will open the container if the police will come and ask. The police did fucking nothing apart from keeping 3 hours on the phone then the closed the case
You need a tool register, register the person ther serial number , and get an extended warranty, they do it for medical devices , it wouldnt be difficult!
It's partly the toolmakers at fault here. Especially with cordless tools on the rise... each with a lovely controller board that could hold a serial number electronically... a serial number that you can go and register on a national database somewhere.... easy proof of ownership.
Screwfix, Toolstation and the like should offer to mark up a tool at the point of sale. Wouldn't take a minute. Alternatively they could ask manufacturers, wholesalers to supply tools already indelibly marked and then just assign the mark to the purchaser, again at the point of sale, in a national database like we see with mobile phones.
Do manufacturers not put serial numbers on tools already? How is any marking going to be better than that?
More stolen tools = more profit for manufacturers and wholesalers.
Why invest in tool theft prevention and reduce sale. Good tools last for a long time, had dewalt hammer drill for 7 years with no intention to buy a new one, only when my van was robbed had to buy a new one.
@@Modestas_Gardziuthis is the exact reason phone snatchings are a thing. They can and should be remotely bricked, but then there's be no thefts and far less sales given phones can last a very long time nowadays.
I have commented along the same lines. The market could be flooded with marked tools so quickly
@@samsonacc8081 there are already RFID tags in the handles of many tools. They could be used, but aren't for "US".
My money is always on - make it look shit , mark it, tag it. write "will never be sold" & stolen from (postcode)" and most importantly LOCK UP !
then write "Big Baz's dung-livery" / dead horse collection. on your van with anything worth something in.
super annoying that people steal tools, when most trade-ies would give you their old drill for free, if asked nicely!
Stealing a tradesman’s tools should be a capital offence.
I've had my van broken into twice for a total of 30k of tools plus vehicle damage plus loss of earnings. Had cctv footage of 1 and a witness of the other , police never attended, never took an official detailed statement from myself or witness and never looked at the cctv footage . I was given a crime reference number for insurance purposes on both occasions and only other contact with the police was to offer victims support counselling . My tools were marked and all tools registered for warranties so had all the serial numbers but the police didn't want them . I don't see what the police are doing to help so I am blaming the police
GM police refused to investigate stolen tools as well as motorcycles that were all marked even though the post mistress witnessed it. GM police also refused to interview the witness
They struggle to lock up people who punch police in the face at air ports so them not investigating tools etc isn’t surprising. Plus most of their times spent scouring the internet for hurtful comments.
People lossing bike for 30k plus with gps ect I dont believe police will look for tools
So you pay extra for a chip in your tools they then get nicked track them to a house and the police do nothing. What more can we do 🙈
They won’t end up in car boot sales if they are marked. The thieves are not that stupid. They might catch new thieves that are just starting out, but the professionals are going to check with an ultra violet light or for anything scratched into the casings.
The one bit of advice is if you leave anything worth anything in a motor, it will be stolen in the end.
You make sure that your motor is safely alarmed up and put a tracker inside tool cases out of the way. Like an apple tag glued under a bit of foam in the case.
If you are lazy you will become a cropper.
What is the point of having a few grands worth of tools and for a few quid not protecting them?
If you tag them and tell the police, they still won’t give a shit. Unless you describe the ethnicity of the thief and they will find a prison cell for 🫵 not them.
I think you’re over estimating the intelligence and diligence of thieves. They’re not going to bother checking the tools over
Investigate? More like hears your crime number.
Never buy second-hand tools, number one rule of the building game
@@davidricketts9498 when you've just had your own nicked you may have no other option.
And that’s why there is a market for them I’ve had my tools stolen 5 times but l would never buy second hand
@@lksf9820 Mugs game.
I had loads of tools stolen once. Absolutely heartbreaking
I mark all my tools with my own DNA, also glows on ultraviolet, its unique and none of my coworkes even dare to touch my tools now because they seen me do it.
Ahaha, it's unfortunate that the wit of this comment will go over the heads of most of the viewership.
Haha I only got that when reading the reply 😂👍
As long as you aren't doing it on the jobsite 😂
Tools Reunited, Hmmm Keir Starmer comes to mind. Good video Roger.
It is nice to see the police trying to do something after the event. Marking is a very good idea. This has been pushed for many years, but never really become the norm unfortunately. The tool registration schemes are also good in this. I have tool serial numbers logged to me through various manufacturer websites for warranty etc. But against your previous point, I still have to say this. Having had my vehicle broken into and tools stolen. This is a crime, and depending on the value stolen, could be a significant crime. Yet in my case when I tried to report the theft to two police stations. One didn't want to know. And the other gave me a crime number report for insurance. Wouldn't even get off their arse to come and take a look. And this is a common problem. There may have been no fingerprints, or any way of recording the thief. But if you don't look, you won't ever know. These are devastating crimes to a tradie, a little respect of that from the police would help. Everything for their job is provided. I have to buy my own.
I'm very positive about marking tools, especially for tradesmen who are very vulnerable to break-in & casual thefts off sites.
I will mark up my home tools, but they are probably less of a target. I'm glad you're doing this.
Motorbike & bicycle theft is another major issue.
The first thing I thought was that everyone is blaming everyone else and there it was Roger, you said it. All my equipment was marked, it didn't matter, it was never seen again. £10k gone and I spiralled into alcoholism and depression I was so fed up. I blamed myself and the Police were of no use whatsoever. They even said they'd seen some stuff on the move on camera, but never bothered to follow it up and wouldn't tell me where it was so I could could hire a private detective. All they want to do is give you a crime number.
I hate Americans, but I feel like moving there and getting myself some firearms to protect myself because our laws do nothing really.
More pressure needs to be put on the vendors of the tools in the first place, they're the ones who should be acting, but they don't because it means more sales for them.
Well said by both of you. I hear you.... now upgrading my tagging. I heat weld ( brand) my mark into all my tools and batteries just in case someone working close to me makes a mistake identifying his tools as mine! Happens often when you have good tools and look after them! I keep my Festool tools hidden from everyone!
Yes mark all your tools, register to prove their yours, but I'd also hide an airtag in one of them. Unfortunately though, my experience is that the police won't do a thing even if you pinpoint an address. Sad state of affairs.
You won't fit an air tag in a drill!!
@@Jacky5299 Not the drill, but someone who's stolen your tools will have stolen them all together. If you stash it in your recip you'll be able to see where your tools are.
we had our yard cleaned out a few years ago. one of our generators turned up on ebay locally a few weeks later. The cops recovered it, the guy admitted he thought it might be stolen because he bought it very cheep from a gentleman out the back of a white transit. To us that seemed like a clear case of handling stolen goods, the cops just gave him a talking to and let him go!
you are right, he didn't care less and he might have even stolen it.
Maybe a professional like a nurse or lawyer or something. Different rules to what Joe Runt gets.
"Fill up the prisons . . . "
Very droll - on the day Sir Keir has just let a few extra criminals out of prison even earlier than before.
1700 of them.
I've said this before, engrave your tools allover with a dremel in difficult places. If you don't you can't complain when they get nicked. Everyone I know has been done
So if you engrave them, you are allowed to complain when they get nicked?
What can you do if you want to sell those tools?
@@KevinAmatt issue a receipt? I personally have rarely sold any of my trade tools. I wear them out..I was cleaned out in broad daylight. The engraved tools led to a prosecution. It ain't much but it's better than nothing.
Thanks for This Roger - Definitely Going to Buy & Mark with This DNA Now...!
Will share this Video with everyone I know and I'll try to contact Garda here as well to Discuss This exact System 👊
Thank You for What You Doing Roger 🙏🙏🙏
Cheers from Dublin 👋
THE POLICE DONT TO THEFT FROM VEHICLES!!! so when do we get the chance to give a list of the tools we have had stolen?
Last time I had my tools stolen from my van, it was broad daylight, 10am, I rand 111, I was on hold for 50 minutes! Then the call dropped!
For the small guy, it's not worth insuring your tools! The high premiums and small print clauses make claiming a slow difficult experience, and will only increase next years insurance premium.
The consequences of being convicted of theft, are far less than the consequences of being a victim of theft!
The government have offered our police officers up as scape goats,
Criminals thrive while police officers are handcuffed by corrupt politicians.
Spot on!
Surprised the police have time for this when there are so many protests to attend.
So many people are saying naughty things online which might hurt your feelings these days, which must take priority over the rapes, thefts and murders you understand.
The police work for the government, not us.
I had 5k’s worth of power tools and surveying equipment stolen out of my van. Dorset police said that because nobody was in danger they wouldn’t attend. Gave me a crime number and that was it. When I found out who had done it Dorset police said it was my word against his and it wouldn’t wash in court and no point in perusing it.
They should make it law that when i tool is purchased the seller must register the buyers details and tool serial number with the manufacturer, this would also help with any warranty claims for faulty tools.
Unfortunately I had most of my carpentry tools stolen from a van about 25 years ago. Most of them were marked but I never saw them again. 😭
When you buy a tool you should always keep the receipt, note the serial numbers and photograph the tool and it's case showing any security markings you have applied. This will assist with your insurance claim and help the police to i.d. your tools if they are recovered. I keep this info in a file and I staple a copy into the tools instruction manual (which I keep separate from the tool).
I also have the best anti theft deterrent/burglar alarm known to man....the kind with a waggy tail and big, gnarly nashers!
Why the tools Don't have all a RFID tag with a unic serial number?
The RFID tags costs cents!
This.
And there could be RFID Scanners at site gate. Any thieves on site will get CCTV 'd going out the gate setting off the RFID scanner.
Many tools already have serial numbers but the police aren't interested in taking the numbers of stolen tools, just want to give you a crime reference number.
With the exception of the chainsaws that's a big pile of junk on the floor. I wonder where all the good gear has gone, Festool etc?
I say this as someone that was turned over this year, all my expensive gear, nail guns, 54v platform etc disappeared, although marked with my name and number.
I did get a call from the Police regarding my 15 year old Dewalt radio recovered from my theft found in an estimated £500k haul in Cranbrook in Kent. As grateful as I was that this was recovered (although I've not got it back yet...) I still wonder why only the impact drivers and combi drills make it to boot fairs.
I can only assume the top end stuff goes abroad.
Make and sell tips for soldering irons with company names/ logos to brand the tools with. Or an id number registered to individuals
I actually just googled this, not as simple to get a personal brand as it should be. There should be a power tool for this!
I mark most of my tools, sometimes i even open them up and mark them with both ink and engravings. The most expensive ones i take photos of the model and serial numbers and if they get damaged i take photos of distinguishable marks.
I keep a list of all my tools' serial numbers. I also have a custom stamp that I machined that I heat brand in a few spots on each tool.
I got an old engraving kit I found in a renovation job, every power tool gets initialed
My power tools have stickers and flecks of spray paint, they look distinctly mine and in a sort of trashy punked way that I think likely devalues them a bit
Weird how little Romanian women have 50 different power tools for sale 😂
Why dont they donate the tools they recover to local colleges for apprentices to use..
Even though it is not that much of a deterrent, every tool I buy gets thoroughly marked with my unique colour scheme and initial in dayglo before it goes on tour.
This mostly prevents me from accidentally grabbing someone else's stuff, which is way more embarrassing than losing a pair of pliers or a screwdriver every now and then, and it really helps keep track of my tools when on the job.
Every serial number goes on the list, and all powertools gets registered for warranty and service, and proof of purchase along with the barcodes go in the administration.
Of course no amount of marking will prevent your entire service vehicle with everything in it from being hoisted on a flatbed and somehow shipped to Bulgaria.
What vehicle was it that got lifted on a flatbed, maybe we can find help for you?
Did you know for sure it went to Bulgaria?
Flatbed with a specific van on board would be quite easy to track in the first 24 to 48 hrs after robbery.
@@disklamer is this Samson person a scammer?
Not sure@@lksf9820 but he does seem to be looking for tips on how to do the flatbed heist better. His main worry seems to be how a vehicle might be tracked. People need to know this stuff when they write their novels and movie scripts. It's not all bad. 😉
@@samsonacc8081 It was a while ago (years), fortunately I had some insurance, but it was quite the setback. I only got notified because local police found a whole yard full and were kind enough to pass along some numbers to insurance companies.
@@lksf9820 I honestly wouldn't know.
I use smart water on all mine. Place in a few different places. Also scribe my postcode in a discreet area.
Had my van broken into twice. First time they cleared it out. Second time there wasn't much but think they got disturbed and didn't take anything.
One of the systems they use is to park their van tight up next to yours and the guy in the back just opens the sliding door to attack your locks. That way they don't even have to get out of their vehicle and can drive off quickly without even the risk of getting grabbed or seen.
Our police (West Mercia) issue SmartWater kits for free. I'm sure many others do too.
@@kempshott I got mine free too. A rep from police came knocking on doors for householders to mark up their stuff. Although I wouldn't mark up as shown in this video. That makes it obvious for the thief that it needs to be removed. I dab in discrete areas.
I mark all my tools and batteries with Select DNA, record the serial numbers and would never buy second hand from a boot fair.
The Police do their best with very limited resources. Judging by several comments on this post. Many people just do not help themselves at all. With the attitudes of people commenting, I am not surprised the Police have no enthusiasm to investigate this type of crime.
Agree wholeheartedly!💙
go back to Tuscany then
No they don't actually do anything. All they want to do is record a crime happened for statistics. They will not help you recover your tools, ever, even if you do 99.9% of the work.
No they don't.... Took them 2 weeks to contact me after my van was emptied, even though they were phoned during the crime, given videos of the culprits and their vehicle (including licence plate). Had been going on for months in my area. Told later by them they knew who did it, but case closed (they couldn't be arsed to do anything about it), no resources. The police are completely useless at everything other than cracking down on peaceful legal protests/demonstrations.
Dont have the "enthusiasm"? They accept their salary with enthusiasm... They are paid to prevent, investigate and detect crime. Enthusiasm is not part of the job description mate.
Very good video i mark all my tools every time it's essential
I etch, sharpie pen and UV my house number and postcode on everything but I think the game changer is smart warter which marks everything with a DNA linked back to me. I also have a spread sheet which lists date of purchase, serial number etc - I'll get me anarack
Surreys a great place for finding brand new tools in vans ❤
Brilliant video guys
I just try to keep an electronic copy of the sale receipt and record the serial number where possible. Will not stop theft but does make proof of ownership easier. Tools are expensive, don’t make it easy for thieves. Keep them secure whenever possible. Don’t have them visible in vehicles when leaving unattended. Secure your vehicle. Keep tools out of sight in tool boxes or covered. Many thefts are opportunistic. Thief sees a likely thing to take and may attempt to do so.
Roger, what about the manufacturers? If we buy a tool and register it for warranty, that is at least a resource the Police could use towards establishing legitimate ownership. I am not suggesting this as the solution, just part of it. I like the DNA type marking system too.
That won't happen, they need the sales.
Can the Police liaise with manufacturers to access ownership data from users who have registered product warranties?
I have registered all my tools with DeWalt and Festool for the 3 year warranty.
@@dougsaunders8109 I tried to register my Dewalt tools, for the 3 year warranty and the website didn't work. I submitted a support ticket and I never heard back, it didn't matter how much I chased them.
Raiding boot sales is just lots of paperwork. The sellers can all claim they bought them innocently from someone else. The only way is to set up bait vans. Then you have them bang to rights and bust them at source.
They're not just being sold at boot sales. Many are piled up in containers and shipped abroad.
If there's no proof that they are stolen why are they seizing them?
I could put my name, address, telephone number and blood group on my tools and the incompetent plod wouldn't know how to return the stuff, if they ever found it in the first place.
They're not incompetent, they think they're above doing their job.
@@billwilson3665 🤔Don't have a clue what point you are trying to make.
@@cypeman8037 He means…even when you report a theft they do nothing about it.
I used to use Smartwater years ago. The main downside was that if the police suspected the gear was yours, you had to pay quite a bit to get it identified. Would add up if you keep throwing £100+ at inspection’s when it turns out not to be your stuff. Not sure if it’s changed nowadays.
We need tougher sentences against tool theft and it would reduce these crimes overnight!!!
Oh yes you mean prison. Good luck with that one when they have no room left.
@@SkillBuilder if the sentences were tougher it would be a deterrent!!
Top work Skill Builder!!
I have marked all my tools with a marker or some with engraver, latter taking a while. I will look into DNA style marking.
Just asking, how do you spot the DNA marking when at a car boot? Only asking as uniformed officers turn up how do they show they are nicked on a sunny Sunday?
Uv torch
Back in the day I knew a let’s call him a very talented electrician who was a very talented South London street fighter/ boxer / martial arts kind of dude. Had his tools stolen on site so slept in the site box for over a week waiting for them to come back. Lucky for them they did not he was a a 6 foot 2 16-16 stone muscle ball. Strong as a bull and tough as they come mixed Greek and Irish !
#ToolsReunited excellent idea.
Starting out as a Pro-DIYer I have invested in some new powertools of the yellow type upgrading from my old Ryobi One+ system. This is something I am going to actively pursue, loss of tools means loss of income.
I use a ultraviolet pen marker on all my tools.
@@garethjudd5840 had any stolen yet?
What do you write? Thank you
I’ve engraved my phone number on everything, tools, batteries, levels, with a Dremel. Gives me some hope if they ever got stolen.
Unfortunately a tradesperson needs to work so must purchase replacement tools either from their own pocket or from insurance money (still technically your own pocket!) immediately after the theft. Being reunited with a stolen tool because you marked it 3 months later is pretty useless as you now have a replacement and the only use is for you to sell a marked used tool second hand. The damage has been done to your pocket already. The answer is to catch and punish the perpetrators with enough force to make the whole idea of tool theft not worth it. Can’t ever see that happening I’m afraid
If insurers insist on tools being marked with/by an approved system/method,plus the manufacturers/dealers supporting such initiatives etc.this problem could be constrained/restrained,however,I'm sure the manufacturers are not over concerned as tools have to be replaced,at worst,most tools can be marked with a cheapo engraver,or even, just a soldering iron.
Ive got an air tag in couple of mine - bulkier tools
Years ago when I had several thousand pounds worth of tools stolen from my van the police refused to come out even though I was only five hundred metres from the police station. They just gave me a crime number. Luckily I worked for a company at the time and they offered to claim on their insurance and told me to replace my tools on their account . Because I appreciated their offer I looked for the best deals for replacing like for like tools.
After giving the insurance company the details and value I was dismayed to hear that the insurance company would only pay 25% of the value because the original tools would be classed as second hand 😮
Yeah, I inquired about tool insurance and they said they want receipts of tools stoled. Like I’d be able to find a receipt of a claw hammer and chisels etc from 25 years ago
on one hand id like to mark tools very visibly but on the other hand i know thieves will just grind the markings off, on the other hand if i mark it at an inconspicuous spot, the police might never find the marking. what to doooo?
The only way to stop tool theft is to only buy new tools. If there is no buyers, there is no market for it. Insurance will cover the cost of replacement with new tools.
I’ve mentioned this before on another of your videos, but it went unnoticed. This is a simple fix, request all manufactures to install “on/off” device within the machine which uses Bluetooth. This Bluetooth device would then be “paired” with an App on a mobile phone. During the “setup” of the new machine a “unique number” would be used to register the device. This unique number would be obtained via the Manufacturer website upon uploading the “original receipt”. Then, the manufacturer and the user would both have a data base in the event of theft. To transfer ownership would be an easy process too, via the website and the app. Anything is possible, its just depends if it’s a priority !!!! The technology is available, but manufacturers need to get on board. If EU politicians can force the industry into producing “generic batteries”, then I am sure they can do this too, it’s people’s livelihood’s we’re talking about, not a battery”. 😊
The manufacturers are quite happy selling replacement tools. We have spoken to them.
@@SkillBuilder I am sure one manufacture would implement what I discussed. Being a "brand" these days, is about doing things out of the "norm", or a NEW BRAND starts this idea and therefore the "Corporates" would have to follow, if they're going to get any NEW sales! I would do it, if enough people would buy !!!
I engraved all my kit using soldering iron to melt my initials into plastic body and engraver for stuff I can't melt.
Roger saves the industry again
I stumbled upon this video, I'm not in the trades. I assume tools stolen from in a van are insured in some way, just like items in a car? How about if insurers stipulated identity marking in order to be covered?
Don’t buy second hand tools
The amount of stolen power and hand tools I've seen on eBay is disgusting. There was a tool bag full to the brim with sparkys hand tools and I told eBay n explained that NOBODY would sell a bag full of brand new tools and told them that their all stolen and nothing come of it.
Like they said, nobody buys used tools as all of them are stolen and if I knew someone who had stolen tools then I wouldn't have anything to do with them n explain why.
I saw one of my stolen tools turn up on eBay. It actually still had my name written on it by marker pen. (I couldn't believe they didn't even bother cleaning it off). It was located in a shop in Manchester (I'm in London) so I phoned up the shop, and the bloke was very obliging and said he'd take it off the shelf until it was sorted. I then contacted the officer that originally dealt with the case, and all he was interested in is whether I had the original purchase receipt for the tool, which I didn't, so he did nothing. Good try Roger, but the police really are useless, it doesn't matter how you mark up your tools, they will not recover them. Not now, not ever.
I am sorry to hear about your experience but you can understand that things get thrown out of court all the time and a huge amount of time and money is wasted. I can lay my hands on reveiots going back years so it was a fair question.
I know it is frustrating and we should be living in a relatively crime free country but we aren't. I read the other day about the number Albanians now residing in our prisons at the cost of £50K per year for each one.
There is a lot to fix in this country but the world is falling apart around us and I do what I can to mitigate the risk to myself whenever i can.
Buying stolen goods = huge fines. Selling stolen tools = huge fines plus lengthy prison sentences, no Sky tv, no visitors, isolation, no mobile phones, and no government benefits for dependents.
I suspect the trouble is tradesmen tend to be insured so get new ones. So once it has happened, they do not want the old ones back. However perhaps insurance companies have more of an interest is dealing with it? Discount on insurance for this genetic marking having been registered with them?
Plus while it helps to get the ones selling them, it is those taking them that are the primary criminals.
Maybe tradesmen have just given up reporting them because the police do sweet FA anyway. Give you a number and tell you to claim on your insurance.
if for cars is databases, as example carvertical, why its cant be for tools , as minimum for big brands.Anyway private sector can register in manufacturer website for warranty, Registered tools, in database,where everyone can check. and buy with Id proof of ownership
I had a Hitachi drill stolen. Reported it. 3 months later the police called and said they think they have my drill and to attend a police station 40 miles away to look to see if it was mine. I took half a day off work to drive 80 miles round trip only to get there and the police tell me they thought my drill was a dewalt and they didn’t think they had mine. I felt more robbed by the police than I did the thieves 🙄
Well that reinforces the need to mark our tools.
@@SkillBuilder indeed it does. Mind you if they can’t tell the difference between a hitachi and a dewalt then I doubt they’ve got the inkling to take a battery out to look for an etched code
They should definitely bring back capital punishment! Just my opinion
The trouble with that is all the miscarriages of justice. Hanging the wrong man is hard to put right.
If we scratch a secret symbol or code into the body of each of our tools the new scheme will be invaluable, but without individual markings I can't see how it would work.
Years ago I bought an engraver, and put my name and phone number on ALL my tools. No good to anyone who steals them.
Just make the effort guys and we will overcome it 😊
Marking tools then makes them worthless, how can you sell a tool that is marked that you own it? Also if they are registered for the guarantee or warrantee wouldn't that show who owns them?
Just watched this video of Two fifth and a look at the DNA to put on your tools for £65 Once of holiday, I will get it ordered and spend half a day mocking my tools up. Even though my tools are on the manufacturers website, all the serial numbers can be scrubbed off or damaged. The DNA but they can see for less than the price of a good quality drill is no brainer.
It’s The Plumber
A long time ago, on a class trip the police handed out UV ink pens for marking property. I still have it but the ink dried up long ago.
Great job Roger, the trade bundles of data tags are out of stock.
ha I hope we had something to do with that but I doubt it
This is why I only buy stolen tools, it doesn't matter if they get nicked
(Gotcha. Relax.😉 )
Tool distributors should offer free marking on tools , insurance companies should require that tools are marked or only 50% of a claim should be honoured, invisible marking will NOT stop thefts
Tool manufacturers are resisting all attempts to have tools marked or registered. The reason is very easy to work out.
Invisible marking will stop tools because it makes them harder to sell. If all tools had forensic marking the thieves would be prosecuted for handling stolen goods but as it is the police have no evidence that the tools they seize are stolen.
Most decent brands require registration of the serial number to get the guarantee. Would be great if the police could have easy contact with the manufacturers to check serial numbers with the registered owner. Wouldn't help for tools bought second hand, but better than nothing. Guessing there are probably also data protection issues....
Would be nice if there was a free place to register and check serial numbers.
The manufacturers could do a bit too.
They could add a "stolen" flag to their warranty systems give Police access to it as well.
They won't do it because they make a lot of money replacing stolen tools. They have actually said that.
Hounslow Heath had tools that still had the owners names on them but we're still there offered for sale
They've banned power tool sales now though
40 years ago I bought an alphabet stamping set and put my initials on my hand tools, but they are probably not worth nicking now.
👍👍👍. Thank you
Maybe victims should be able to claim/replace like for like unclaimed un reunited tools to get them back on their feet?
best bit is that those that get caught and sentenced only have to do 40% of the punishment.
Why aren’t the cops calling it smart water anymore, is it because of the drink brand? When I lived in London years ago the police just handed out smart water free to households to mark their property in an attempt to deter burglaries
No deterant for these crimes, hurty words get you prison time 🤔
I had my tools stolen from the van and had an airtag installed so i could pinpoint where they are . The thief store the tools in a container and the company told me they will open the container if the police will come and ask. The police did fucking nothing apart from keeping 3 hours on the phone then the closed the case
Mine have soldering iron writing or my phone number stamped.
Just make it so you can't sell tools without an original receipt.
You need a tool register, register the person ther serial number , and get an extended warranty, they do it for medical devices , it wouldnt be difficult!
Roger this crime on industrial scale police definitely need doing a lot more my van being breaking in 4 times when I live north London
Can Skill builder sort a discount code for these marking kits? They are pretty expensive.
Why don't they tell manufacturers to microchip the tools like they obliged people to microchip their pets? A chip is £4 , a scanner £20.
It's partly the toolmakers at fault here. Especially with cordless tools on the rise... each with a lovely controller board that could hold a serial number electronically... a serial number that you can go and register on a national database somewhere.... easy proof of ownership.