Protect your tools

[Bingy man]

I imagine a lot members have there vans and shops protected but others may not . Every now and again the subject of security or worse one of us has had there van or workshop broken into causing loss of income and loss of expensive tools and equipment. I picked this letter up this morning and thought some of the information may be useful to others . This is from West Midlands police but I’m sure the police in other areas have similar schemes. The websites are however accessible to all . Again some of this is old news others may not be aware. Thanks

 

[stuckinthemud]

I remember when advice was do not lock your shed/workshop/vehicle as at least that way your shed/workshop/vehicle won’t get too badly damaged in a break-in, but, it never ceases to amaze me at the number of vans I pass left full of kit outside a job with doors wide open and no-one in sight

 

[Stigmorgan]

I remember when advice was do not lock your shed/workshop/vehicle as at least that way your shed/workshop/vehicle won’t get too badly damaged in a break-in, but, it never ceases to amaze me at the number of vans I pass left full of kit outside a job with doors wide open and no-one in sight

And then insurers decided that by not locking your shed etc you were responsible for allowing the breaking to happen and they could refuse to pay out so the advice changed to keep everything locked up like fort knox

 

[niemeyjt]

With regard to serial numbers etc - a quick solution is the Bosch Pro360 App. Whilst it will scan and recognise Bosch items automatically, it will also allow you to add other brands of products - so all serial numbers can be in one place.

Sadly, it does not (yet?) support an easy export function - though hopefully it wont be required.

I have bitten the bullet and bought a SmartWater kit - hopefully I will never get to find out how good it is. Has anyone got good/bad feedback?

 

[Lorenzl]

Of course smart water and serial numbers ( except for insurance claims ) are only of use if the police find the tools.

 

[Amplidyne]

There was something about tool theft on one of the breakfast TV things on today. BBC?
More of the same, lock your stuff up. mark it, make your van as thief proof as possible etc.

I use a UV marker on my stuff. As said though, the coppers have to find the kit first.

Personally I'd go medieval on people who nick other peoples' livings, but that's me.

 

[Spectric]

I have bitten the bullet and bought a SmartWater kit

They have a really good track record and many businesses use this product and I have seen the signs at Waitrose. You need to put it in places where no one can remove it, ie nooks and crannies in major components of the item, do not use it on parts that could easily be removed and replaced.