Trades United to Lead Second Van Rally in Westminster to Combat Tool Theft
Date: Monday, 3rd February 2025
Location: Brent Cross to Parliament Square, Westminster
Time: Starting at 11:00 AM, arriving at Parliament Square by 11:45–12:00 PM 03.02.2025 – TRAILER
Trades United is once again organising a van rally in Westminster (Parliament Square) to draw attention to the pervasive issue of tool theft and the resale of stolen goods. Starting from Brent Cross, tradespeople from across the UK will unite in London to demand stricter enforcement of existing theft laws, particularly concerning tool theft.
Listen to our podcast episode recorded at the last rally below.
An Industry in Crisis: The Need for Action
The second van rally will captivate London as tradesmen and women urge the government to address inadequate enforcement of laws that threaten the livelihoods of thousands across the UK. Following the success of the initial rally on 3rd June 2024, this demonstration aims to amplify the call for stronger deterrents against thieves and more effective measures to combat the sale of stolen tools.
Participants will stage a “go-slow” convoy in Westminster, driving through the area for two hours to raise awareness. The previous rally gained significant traction within the trade community, fostering partnerships with organizations like SelectaDNA and the Metropolitan Police, which have since initiated mass tool-marking events to assist in returning stolen tools to their rightful owners and convicting offenders.
Building Momentum for Change
Trades United, led by Shoaib Awan, previously launched a petition (#659019) in April 2024, calling for the government to address the escalating tool theft crisis by banning the sale of tools at car boots and markets. While the dissolution of Parliament on 30th May 2024 led to the petition’s closure, it garnered over 46,000 signatures, reflecting the widespread concern within the trade industry. Awan continues to encourage support for this critical cause, urging MPs and their parties to prioritize this issue.
Demanding Accountability
Trades United seeks to hold the government accountable for protecting tradespeople and ensuring the enforcement of laws designed to safeguard the broader community. With growing industry support, this rally aims to compel policymakers to address the root causes of tool theft and deliver the urgent reforms required.
The Theft Act 1968 clearly outlines severe penalties for handling stolen goods, including up to 14 years of imprisonment upon conviction. However, the lack of sufficient police funding and resources has hindered effective enforcement, leaving tradespeople vulnerable to escalating theft.
Trades United calls on the government to take decisive action by:
- Increasing funding for law enforcement in particular specialist crime personnel and frontline officers, prioritising motor vehicle crimes including theft from and theft of. Enable them to enforce the existing laws efficiently and effectively.
- Theft Act 1968 Section 27 (3) a/b, handling stolen goods – is currently a straight charge if there is a previous conviction for theft in the last 5 years and have been found to be in possession of stolen goods in the last 12 months. This should be updated to 5 years since a previous conviction and found to have been handling stolen goods in the last 5 years to facilitate with being able to charge repeat criminals for the offences more effectively.
- Revise Equipment Theft (Prevention) Act 2023 to include all power tools or produce an alternative legislation to cover the theft of Power Tools e.g. harsher penalties for this crime to include – heavy fines/penalties for establishments allowing the sale of stolen tools including but not limited to pawn shops, markets and car boot sales
- Tool theft – consider the crime an aggravated offence.
Join the Movement
Tradespeople and supporters are encouraged to participate in this critical event and make their voices heard. Together, we can advocate for the protection of livelihoods and demand meaningful change.
Founder of campaign group Trades United Shoaib Awan, said:
” On the 3rd Feburary 2025 I will bring tradespeople across the country together once again at Parliament square, for the new Government to see the distress these thieves and car boot sales have caused to their livelihoods. Tool theft numbers are rising year on year and not enough from the Government has been done to protect the trades. A crime reference
number is not acceptable. We don’t want policies that don’t work we need strict enforcement and a crackdown operation with IMMEDIATE EFFECT.
It’s distressing how widespread tool theft has become, impacting not only livelihoods but also mental well-being and family stability. The lack of effective intervention from law enforcement only exacerbates the problem. Businesses suffer not only from the loss of tools but also from the subsequent financial burdens such as increased insurance costs and repairs. It’s essential for communities, policymakers, and law enforcement agencies to work together to address this epidemic and provide support for those affected”.
To read Professional Builder’s coverage of the first rally, visit:
Trades United Van Rally protests against tool theft – Professional Builder
Experiences of tool theft from people taking part in the rally:
Danny Madden (Madden Builders):
“1986 my dad’s van was broken into and all the tools stolen, fast forward to 2024 when my own van was broken into on a driveway all tools stolen and van emptied. This is clearly a problem that hasn’t gone away and it literally shuts down our business overnight.
Six times my van has been targeted over the years, I am in constant fear of going out each day to earn a living that I am at risk each time I leave the van. Something has to be done about this now. This needs to stop now we need the support of the police and most importantly the Government.”
Karm Warshawaya – Build Works:
“I’m here because a year ago my van and all my tools were stolen in broad daylight. To say the impact of this was paralysing both emotionally physically and financially is an understatement. Within 2 hours everything we built over 10 years was gone. I was simply told let your insurance deal with it.
Tools are stolen every 17 minutes in the UK. Stolen Tool trafficking is incredibly lucrative for petty criminals, more needs to be done to protect tradespeople.
Car boots and cash converters are the easiest no trail places to sell stolen tools. Help us to end this and make sure no tradespeople go through what we did”.
Shane (Helix Plumbing and Heating):
“I had my tools stolen as an apprentice and I had saved really hard to buy those tools that were helping me make a career for myself. In one night all of that got taken away from and I had to start all over again with no help and no prosecution for the thieves that were to blame.
Things need to change. If we all woke up tomorrow and every trades persons tools were stolen, within a couple of days this country would come to a stop. We need change!”
Joe (Second City Screed Ltd):
“I am lucky enough not to have had tools stolen however I have friends that have and people I know.
The biggest effect of this happening is people’s mental health suffering and in turn causing the tradies to break down and in a lot of circumstances leading to suicide. Check the statistics of suicide in construction and how since tool theft has increased so has the suicide rate”.
EZ Builds Official:
“My van has been broken into twice now. The first time they got away with about £1,000.00 of tools and the second time which was only a few months ago they wiped me clean of all of my tools totalling around £3,500.00.
It caused me a great deal of stress and anxiety as I didn’t know how I was going to get back on my feet and provide for my family.
Now it is a constant fear when going to jobs and having to pick and choose what I carry with me thus making a job a lot more stressful than it already is. Something has to be done now.”
The Roofing Outlaw:
“Tool theft has affected me many times and contributed to a lot of lost work. I have had to stop jobs due to the theft and not having the tools to complete the job. I cannot feed my 10 children with a crime reference number, I have never claimed benefits in my life, I am a hard worker and a proud member of the English society. However my patience is wearing thin with the lack of law enforcement – how many times do I let them steal my money?”
Steve:
“My dads van was stolen in 2024 along with thousands of pounds of tools (locked in a tool safe) all we got from the police was a crime reference number. I had to drive to the next county to see the police because our local police station in Harlow doesn’t deal with this type of crime”.
RDW Electrical:
“2023 my van was broken into at 11am outside Lords Cricket Ground, I was given a police reference number with no police attendance. I was subsequently told that there was sufficient CCTV in the area but not enough time to look into it. £4,900.00 of tools were stolen including my suitcase with personal belongings. The insurance paid out £1,900.00 after being told that my tools would have decreased in value by 20% per year since purchase. This made me feel like I was robbed twice.
Police need to take tool theft more seriously and treat it like it was a personal mugging because that is how it felt.
Its time for the trades to come together and fight against these gangs and thugs. We need the Government to stand with us and not allow this to continue.
Nick Shaw:
“I personally haven’t had my van broken into but many of my friends have. It has got to the point now with so many vans being broken into that I am scared to even leave it at the supermarket car park to do a quick shop, how has it come to this?”
Gary Quinn:
“As a self-employed trades person it is difficult enough to find work to provide for your families and pay the ever increasing bills,etc. Without tool thieves making life even more difficult.
We are all aware that this is not going to stop overnight but we need to make a move forward with this and keep making progress towards ending tool theft.”
Paint Warrior:
“My van has been done a few times now, the first time cost me several clients and caused my insurance to rise. As you can imagine how frustrating this is being penalised twice for what happens to our vans. The police didn’t show up, I only got to speak with an operator on the phone. I do feel like if I owned a shop the police would be there if it was broken into. We are treated differently.”
Warren:
“I have had my van done seven times now, never at home always at the jobs. Three times my van was sign written and 4 times there were no signs on the van, but I guess the pipe tubes give it away. The damages to the van cost more than the stolen tools themselves and time lost with the van off of the road for repairs”.
