Tool theft has surged across London – with incidents almost doubling in one borough.

Security experts from Safe.co.uk have warned tradespeople to be more vigilant, as these thefts are a year-round threat, costing businesses and workers significantly.

Freedom of Information (FoI) data requested by the firm revealed more than 34,712 tool thefts in London between 2021 and 2023.

Barnet had the most thefts with 2,316 incidents, followed by 2,004 in Enfield and 1,980 in Newham.

While these figures represent the areas with the most tool thefts, Camden, Greenwich, and Lambeth are reporting the most drastic changes.

There was an 88 per cent increase in Camden, rising from 333 incidents in 2022 to 627 in 2023.

Safe.co.uk's survey showed 68 per cent of tradespeople fear tool theft.

To combat the rise, security expert Anthony Neary advises tradespeople to lock tools in alarmed storage facilities, or even bring them into the home.

He also suggests marking tools with identifiable labels, as more than half of tradespeople do not do this simple trick.

Finally, he urges tradespeople to stay vigilant, ensuring vehicles are locked and parked in well-lit areas, tools are not left in plain sight, and everything is accounted for each morning, particularly during high-risk months.