A stolen drill is rarely just a stolen drill. It can mean a cancelled job, a damaged van, lost income and the unsettling knowledge that someone has targeted the tools you rely on to earn a living.
The BBC reports that at least 26,164 tool thefts were recorded in 2025 by the 30 police forces that provided figures: roughly one every 20 minutes. Fifteen other forces could not provide data, so this is not a complete UK count. The report describes repeat theft, intimidation and long periods without working vehicles.
Could a tracker help? Yes, as part of a broader response. Tracking can provide a movement alert or location evidence, but it does not stop a break-in, prove ownership or guarantee recovery.
Start with the livelihood
The loss extends beyond the replacement price: consider van repair, missed appointments, insurance excess, time reporting the theft and the impact on customers. The BBC cites an average tool-theft insurance claim of £4,206.60 in 2025, according to Direct Line for Business. That is a claim average, not the full business loss.
Five layers of protection
- Make theft harder. Review parking, what remains in vehicles overnight, locks, secure storage and site access. Choose measures that fit the vehicle and working routine.
- Know what you own. Record make, model, serial number, photographs and proof of purchase in a secure inventory accessible away from the van. Keep it up to date.
- Make ownership easier to establish. Visible identification and forensic marking can help link recovered property to its owner, provided records remain current and marks can be checked.
- Add tracking selectively. A tracker in a case, vehicle or high-value asset may provide evidence of movement or a last known location. A van tracker does not necessarily locate individual tools removed from it.
- Plan the response. Decide who receives an alert, checks it and shares useful information with police and insurers. Report theft promptly. Do not confront suspected thieves or attempt a recovery yourself.
Which tracking technology should a tradesperson consider?
Start by deciding what needs protecting: the van, a tool case or a particular high-value item. Different devices answer different questions.
Bluetooth finding tags
A tag is a relatively simple, low-cost starting point for a tool bag or case. An Apple AirTag costs £29, or £99 for four. Samsung’s SmartTag2 launched at £34.99; retail prices vary. Pair the tag with a compatible phone and attach it to the case. AirTag requires a compatible Apple device; SmartTag works with compatible Galaxy devices.
When away from your phone, these tags depend on nearby devices in their respective finding networks. They are not independently reporting GPS trackers: updates may be delayed or unavailable. A tag in a case tracks the case, not tools removed from it. Consumer tags also have unwanted-tracking safeguards and may make a sound when separated from their owner; they are not covert or tamper-proof security systems.
Battery-powered cellular GPS asset trackers
These may suit a valuable tool chest, generator or other larger asset that moves separately from the van. They can report without relying on passing phones, but need battery power, positioning and mobile coverage. Setup generally involves activating a service, mounting the device and configuring an app. Prices, subscriptions and battery life vary; more frequent reporting can shorten battery life. Check size, coverage, reporting intervals and total cost.
Hardwired van GPS trackers
These track the vehicle and may provide movement or other alerts. Installation and an ongoing connection are normally required. As one UK example, Tracking Centre lists £16.99 per month including VAT on an 18-month plan, or £114.99 for the device plus a separate plan. Check whether fitting is included. A van tracker cannot locate an individual tool after it is removed from the vehicle.
Professionally monitored vehicle recovery systems
For a higher-risk van, or where an insurer specifies a system, professional fitting and monitoring may be appropriate. One advertised S5+ example from Van Alert is £499 fitted including VAT, plus £16.99 per month. Ask what the monitoring team does, whether police liaison is included, what your insurer accepts and what happens if the subscription lapses.
These are examples, not endorsements. Prices were checked on 30 October 2026 and can change. Ask for the complete first-year cost, including VAT, fitting, connectivity and contract commitments. No tracker guarantees recovery: devices can be removed, damaged, shielded or lose power or signal.
Can future tracking technology improve detection and recovery?
Yes. The opportunity is to connect improvements into a practical system. Some building blocks exist today; their application to affordable tool-theft recovery still needs real-world testing.
Smarter tools and shared detection networks
Some tools already have built-in Bluetooth, and tags can extend tracking to other equipment. Milwaukee ONE-KEY, for example, uses compatible nearby phones to update a tool’s last known location. Future systems could make tools easier to register and detect across more sites and fleets. Network density remains a limitation: a tool in a metal container or a remote area may not be detected, and detection is not proof of theft.
More precise finding at close range
Bluetooth Channel Sounding is an existing specification designed to improve distance measurement between compatible devices. It could help an authorised user narrow down a tool’s position once nearby. It does not provide nationwide location on its own; results depend on compatible hardware, implementation and environment. Field tests in vans, workshops and metal storage matter more than a laboratory claim.
Smaller, longer-lasting connected devices
Improvements in low-power electronics, batteries and cellular connectivity could make independently reporting trackers more practical for individual tools. Size, price, battery life, coverage and reporting frequency will remain trade-offs. A useful product must withstand everyday handling and tell its owner when its battery or connection needs attention.
Alerts that understand context
A future system might combine tool movement, a van-door event, time of day and an authorised user’s presence to flag unusual activity. It could shorten the time to a report, but may also raise false alarms when a colleague borrows equipment or coverage drops. Automated assessments should explain their evidence and uncertainty, with a person deciding whether to escalate.
A stronger evidence trail
Manufacturers and industry could make it easier to link a tool’s identity, ownership record, tracker events and a theft report. With appropriate controls, that could help owners share relevant evidence with police or insurers. Such a system would need accurate records, ownership transfer when a tool is sold, privacy safeguards and clear access rules. This is a proposal, not an assumption that a cross-market system already exists.
The test for future solutions is practical: how quickly do they detect a meaningful event, how often are they wrong, do they work where tools are stored, and can owners afford and maintain them? A location should support a police-led response, not encourage confrontation.
The resale market matters
The BBC investigation also points to the second-hand market. Ownership records and marking are more useful when matched by practical checks by buyers, marketplaces and law enforcement. Asking for a serial number and credible proof of ownership is a useful precaution. A missing serial number or suspiciously cheap listing should prompt questions, not an automatic accusation. Use platform reporting routes and police reports rather than arranging a confrontation.
What can a small business do this week?
List the tools you cannot work without. Photograph them, record serial numbers and receipts, check insurance terms and review storage. Consider a compatible Bluetooth tag for a case and assess whether the van or a valuable asset warrants a cellular tracker. Test coverage and alerts in the places the equipment is kept, and agree who will respond.
Police, insurers, manufacturers, marketplaces and the tracking industry all have a role: discourage theft, make stolen property harder to sell, identify it when found and give victims a safer route back to work.
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