Tradesmen - How Far Do You Go To Protect Your Tools?

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It is a sad fact of life that we will all at some point be a victim of crime, and the most likely crime that we will be a victim of is theft.

When you are a tradesman, whether it be a plumber, a builder, an electrician or a general handyman, your tools mean the world to you. It takes a long time and a lot of money to build a tool collection that you are proud of.

Cheap tools break easily and don’t do the job like a good quality tool can. Piece by piece, you build your toolbox up, making sure that you have the best version of each tool that you can possibly afford.

This is all well and good, until something goes wrong and you are burgled.

In this article we will give you some tips on keeping your tools safe:

Get Them Insured

No matter how many precautions you take, there is still a chance that someone could help themselves to their tools, and if they do, you will be stuck with no way of earning money to pay for new ones.

You really must make sure that your tools are insured adequately, so that you know that in the event of a theft, you will be able to replace like for like. Your insurance company will be able to advise you on what kind of cover is best for you – and make sure you understand the ins and outs of the policy before you sign up.

Get a Lock Up

Many tradesmen have no choice but to store their tools in their van overnight – it is simply too much hassle to bring everything in every night.

To solve this problem, consider renting a lock up garage where you can store your van until the morning. Thieves will have to firstly break into the garage, and then break into your van to gain access, and they just won’t be bothered.

Only Use the Tools You Need

There’s no point carrying all of your tools around with you at all times. Take a small toolbox to every job which has the essentials in it, and if you know you have a particularly tricky job to do then make sure you take the extra tools to tackle it.

Keep all tools that you are not using locked up in a shed or a garage that is well secured. That way if your van is broken into, you won’t lose everything, just a few pieces.

Cover Up

Invest in a folding hardtonneau cover to pull over the back of your truck so that you can make sure that all of your tools are out of sight at all times. They fold across the exposed areas of the truck, and are tightly secured into place, meaning that it is impossible to see what is underneath.

This way, all of your valuable tools will remain unseen by potential thieves.
Your tools are essential for you to carry out your trade and earn an income, so guard them with your life!

Featured images:

•  License: Creative Commons
•  License: Creative Commons
•  License: Creative Commons

The author of this post is Todd Jacobson. He works for PartsEngine.ca well-known suppliers of retractable tonneau covers. A vintage car enthusiast, Todd can often be found at the biggest car auctions throughout the country.