Tool identification and site security
An unrecorded tool is an unrecoverable tool.
The exposure
Cordless power tools are among the most stolen items on construction sites, and specialist or high-value tools are targeted disproportionately.
Practical measures
- Record serial numbers and photograph tools at purchase.
- Mark tools visibly and forensically.
- Register with manufacturer and national property databases where available.
Insurance
Check whether cover requires overnight removal from vehicles and specific security standards — many policies do, and claims fail on that clause.
Why it belongs on a tool site
Buyers of specialist equipment routinely underestimate this, and the loss is not only the tool but the day's work it was supposed to do.
Questions about this
What actually helps recover a stolen tool?
Recorded serial numbers and photographs taken at purchase. Without them, recovery and insurance claims are both far harder.
Does insurance cover tools left in a van?
Frequently not overnight, or only with specified security measures. Check the policy wording — claims commonly fail on that clause.