SiteKiln gives you plain-English information, not legal, insurance or financial advice. Always check your own policies, contracts and local police guidance, and speak to a qualified professional or your insurer before making decisions about cover, claims or security spend.
The worst has happened. Van or site broken into, tools gone. This is the page you follow on that day -- no drama, just what to do next and in what order.
1. First hour: safety, evidence, police
Before anything else, slow down and do this in order.
Make sure it's safe
- If you disturb thieves in the act, back off and call 999 -- do not try to be a hero.
- Once you're sure they're gone, don't start cleaning up yet.
Record what you're seeing
- Take clear photos of damaged locks, peeled doors, broken glass, cut fences, forced containers -- wide shots and close-ups.
- Note time, place, and anything odd: CCTV cameras nearby, suspicious vehicles, neighbours who might have seen or heard something.
Call the police
- If it's in progress or just happened and thieves might still be around: 999.
- If it's after the fact and no immediate danger: 101 or your local force's online reporting.
- Get a crime reference number (CRN) and write down the officer's name and collar number.
Don't move the van or repair things until you've got photos. Insurers and police will both want to see there was forced entry.
2. Same day: log what's gone
Next job is working out what's missing and documenting it properly.
Make a list straight away
- Go through your inventory (or your memory if you don't have one) and write down every missing tool: make, model, serial number if you've got it.
- Note approximate value and how long you've had it -- insurers may ask.
Collect proof you own it
- Pull receipts, invoices, card statements, or screenshots of online orders where you can.
- Use photos of your tools in your van or on site as supporting evidence if that's all you've got.
Update property registers
- If your tools were registered on Immobilise, log in and flag them as stolen so police and dealers see the status if they're checked.
- Do the same on any manufacturer systems or tool-tracking platforms you use (Milwaukee One-Key, Hilti, etc.).
This is where the boring prep -- serials, photos, Doc Hub inventory -- suddenly becomes gold.
3. Same day: Stolen Tools UK
Once you've got the basics, bring Stolen Tools UK into it.
Send them the key details
- Date, time and location of the theft.
- List of missing tools with makes, models, serials and photos if you have them.
- Any CCTV stills or footage, plus vehicle reg if one shows up.
What they do with it
- They push your theft out quickly on their channels so the trade can see what's been taken and where from.
- They log your tools so if police, pawnbrokers or other trades see them, they can flag it.
- They can help link your case to patterns they're seeing elsewhere -- same reg, same method, same area.
You're giving yourself a second line of defence: even if insurance doesn't play ball, at least there's a fighting chance of spotting and recovering some of your kit.
4. Within 24-48 hours: insurers and clients
Now you stabilise the business side.
Call your insurer or broker
Have this ready before you phone:
- CRN, your tool inventory, proof of purchase, photos of damage, and your policy number.
Ask them to spell out:
- What's covered (tools in vans / on site / at home).
- Any excess, limits and overnight-in-van conditions.
- What exactly they need from you to move the claim quickly.
Answer straight and don't pad the claim -- if they catch you guessing or guessing high, they can use that to knock the whole thing back.
Talk to your clients
- Call any clients or main contractors you're due to be on site for and be honest: you've had a major theft, you're working the plan, and you'll confirm updated dates as soon as you know.
- Offer options: can someone else from your team or network cover, can you switch tasks (e.g. inside work that needs fewer tools) while you rebuild your kit.
- Put it in writing in a short follow-up email so there's a record.
The worst thing you can do is go quiet. Most decent clients will work with you if you show you're on top of it.
5. Next 7-30 days: getting back on your feet
Once the dust settles a bit, the focus shifts to getting back working and closing the gaps.
Rebuild your essentials first
- Make a list of "must-have to earn" tools and replace those first -- even if it's with loaned or cheaper kit for now.
- Talk to your merchants and reps -- some will do discounts or terms for theft victims, especially if you're a regular.
- Lean on your network (family, mates, other trades) for short-term loans to keep you earning while claims are processed.
Fix the weak spots
- Go back through 12.3 and actually implement the van and site security checklist -- doors, locks, vaults, lighting, marking, registration.
- If your insurance let you down, review 6.4 and 6.9 and change your cover so you're not caught the same way twice.
- Register every new tool properly and log it in your inventory and with Stolen Tools UK from day one.
If you've already lived through this once, this is where you rebuild and then harden everything so it's never that easy for them again.
6. Common mistakes
- Cleaning up the scene before taking photos or calling police -- you're destroying your own evidence.
- Leaving it a day or two to report -- raises insurance questions and kills chances of CCTV being saved (most systems overwrite within 24-72 hours).
- Not having serial numbers or proof of purchase -- claims drag and recovered tools can't be reunited with you.
- Assuming insurance will "just sort it" -- read the small print on overnight storage, security conditions and excesses before you need to claim, not after.
- Going quiet on clients -- silence looks like unreliability. One honest phone call keeps the relationship alive.
- Padding the claim -- insurers investigate construction tool claims closely. Inflating values or adding tools that weren't stolen can void your entire claim.
7. Who to contact
On the day:
- Police -- 999 (if in progress / immediate danger) or 101 / online if after the fact. Get your CRN.
- Stolen Tools UK -- log your theft, share your kit details and push alerts out: stolentoolsuk (Instagram/social)
- Your insurer or broker -- start the claim and understand what they'll actually pay.
- Immobilise -- flag registered tools as stolen: immobilise.com (free)
Within the week:
- Your bank / finance companies -- if you're going to struggle with payments because you're off the tools.
- Main clients or contractors -- agree revised dates and keep relationships intact.
- Your merchants / tool reps -- ask about theft-victim terms or short-term credit to get back on your feet.
If the theft has hit you hard personally:
- Samaritans -- 116 123 (free, 24 hours, 7 days)
- Band of Builders -- support for tradespeople in crisis: bandofbuilders.org
- Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity -- helpline: 0345 605 1956 (free)
8. Sources
- Police guidance on reporting theft and preserving evidence.
- Stolen Tools UK -- community reporting process and recovery support.
- Insurance industry guidance on tool theft claims, evidence requirements and common pitfalls.
- Trade press on merchant support schemes for theft victims.
9. Related guides on this site
- 12.1 Why tool theft matters now
- 12.2 How tool thieves actually operate
- 12.3 Locking down your vans and sites
- 12.5 Using Stolen Tools UK proactively
- 12.6 Tool security policy for your business
- 6.4 Tools and plant insurance
- 6.9 Making an insurance claim
Frequently asked questions
What do I do if my van is broken into?
First, call 101 (or 999 if the thieves might still be nearby) and get a crime reference number -- you need this for insurance. Don't touch or clean up until you've taken photos of the damage. Then call your insurance company immediately. Check any CCTV nearby (shops, houses, Ring doorbells) and ask neighbours if they saw anything.
Post on local Facebook groups straight away -- stolen tools often surface within hours on Marketplace or selling groups. Check Gumtree, eBay and local cash converters. If your tools were registered on Immobilise (immobilise.com), tell the police so they can flag them as stolen on the national database. The first 24 hours are critical for recovery.
How do I claim on tool insurance?
Call your insurer as soon as possible -- most policies require you to report within 24-48 hours. You'll need: the crime reference number from the police, a list of stolen items with values, any proof of ownership (receipts, photos, bank statements, Immobilise records), and photos of the damage to your van.
Check your policy excess -- this is the amount you pay before the insurer pays out. Tool insurance excesses are typically £100-£500. Also check your policy limit -- many basic policies cap at £1,000-£5,000 for tools. If your kit is worth £15,000 and you're insured for £5,000, you're eating the other £10,000 yourself. Get your cover reviewed after every big tool purchase.
Should I go to work without tools?
If you've got a job on and no tools, call your customer or site manager first thing and explain what happened. Most people are understanding when they hear your van's been broken into. If you're on a site with a team, you might be able to borrow tools for the day. Some tool hire companies (Speedy, HSS, Brandon Hire) offer emergency same-day hire.
Check if your insurance covers tool hire while your claim is processed -- some policies include this. If you're a subbie and you don't turn up, you don't get paid, so weigh up whether a day's hire is cheaper than a day's lost earnings. Some trade associations and charities (like the Rainy Day Trust on 0300 303 5226) can help with emergency grants for tradespeople hit by tool theft.
How do I prove what was in my van?
This is the question that catches everyone out after a theft. If you don't already have an inventory, work backwards: go through your bank statements, card transactions, Screwfix/Toolstation/Amazon order history, and finance agreements. Ask any mates who've worked with you to confirm what tools you had -- written statements help.
Insurers want evidence, not guesswork. The best proof is a combination of purchase receipts, photos (check your phone camera roll -- you've probably got pictures of jobs with your tools visible), Immobilise registrations, and serial numbers. Going forward, photograph every tool when you buy it, register it on Immobilise (free), engrave your postcode on metal tools, and keep a running spreadsheet. Ten minutes now saves ten hours of stress later.
Frequently asked questions
What do I do if my van is broken into?
First, call 101 (or 999 if the thieves might still be nearby) and get a crime reference number -- you need this for insurance. Don't touch or clean up until you've taken photos of the damage. Then call your insurance company immediately. Check any CCTV nearby (shops, houses, Ring doorbells) and ask neighbours if they saw anything.
Post on local Facebook groups straight away -- stolen tools often surface within hours on Marketplace or selling groups. Check Gumtree, eBay and local cash converters. If your tools were registered on Immobilise (immobilise.com), tell the police so they can flag them as stolen on the national database. The first 24 hours are critical for recovery.
How do I claim on tool insurance?
Call your insurer as soon as possible -- most policies require you to report within 24-48 hours. You'll need: the crime reference number from the police, a list of stolen items with values, any proof of ownership (receipts, photos, bank statements, Immobilise records), and photos of the damage to your van.
Check your policy excess -- this is the amount you pay before the insurer pays out. Tool insurance excesses are typically £100-£500. Also check your policy limit -- many basic policies cap at £1,000-£5,000 for tools. If your kit is worth £15,000 and you're insured for £5,000, you're eating the other £10,000 yourself. Get your cover reviewed after every big tool purchase.
Should I go to work without tools?
If you've got a job on and no tools, call your customer or site manager first thing and explain what happened. Most people are understanding when they hear your van's been broken into. If you're on a site with a team, you might be able to borrow tools for the day. Some tool hire companies (Speedy, HSS, Brandon Hire) offer emergency same-day hire.
Check if your insurance covers tool hire while your claim is processed -- some policies include this. If you're a subbie and you don't turn up, you don't get paid, so weigh up whether a day's hire is cheaper than a day's lost earnings. Some trade associations and charities (like the Rainy Day Trust on 0300 303 5226) can help with emergency grants for tradespeople hit by tool theft.
How do I prove what was in my van?
This is the question that catches everyone out after a theft. If you don't already have an inventory, work backwards: go through your bank statements, card transactions, Screwfix/Toolstation/Amazon order history, and finance agreements. Ask any mates who've worked with you to confirm what tools you had -- written statements help.
Insurers want evidence, not guesswork. The best proof is a combination of purchase receipts, photos (check your phone camera roll -- you've probably got pictures of jobs with your tools visible), Immobilise registrations, and serial numbers. Going forward, photograph every tool when you buy it, register it on Immobilise (free), engrave your postcode on metal tools, and keep a running spreadsheet. Ten minutes now saves ten hours of stress later.
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In crisis? Samaritans 116 123 ·