Tool theft in the construction industry

2018-11-08T10:55:59Z

Powertools2u: Created page with "Crooks employing increasingly sophisticated methods are costing UK tradespeople millions of pounds each year as tool theft reaches what experts are calling an 'all-time high' acr..."

Crooks employing increasingly sophisticated methods are costing UK tradespeople millions of pounds each year as tool theft reaches what experts are calling an 'all-time high' across the country.

Research by [https://www.powertools2u.co.uk Powertools2U] has uncovered that [https://www.powertools2u.co.uk/blog/tool-theft-in-the-uk/ tool theft is costing tradespeople around £100 million per year], with a single break-in costing the average tradesperson around £14,000 once the cost of replacements and lost-earnings are factored in.

Today, criminals are using complex methods such as electronic fob interception and a technique known as 'peel & steal', which has contributed to the rising number of thefts.

== Worst Locations for Tool Theft ==

# London
# Sheffield
# Birmingham
# Leicester
# Chelmsford
# Tunbridge Wells
# Bristol
# Nottingham
# Northampton
# Reading

Somewhat unsurprisingly, London led the way as England's tool-theft capital, though the matter is far from a localised issue.

Behind London, areas as far and wide as Sheffield, Birmingham, Tunbridge Wells and Nottingham also made the list.

== A Work Van is Broken into Every 23 Minutes ==

Powertools2U have also uncovered that a tradesperson's van is broken into and their tools stolen every 23 minutes across the UK, with as many as 50% of tradespeople having been a victim of a theft at least once.

With the average claim costing victims, a whopping £1,692, it’s unsurprising that half of tradespeople who’ve experienced tool theft couldn’t work afterwards. Although some people have to take one or two days off, research shows that some people have had to take a fortnight off work, before they could afford to reimburse the stolen tools.

Sadly, such a trend shows no sign of abating, with the average tool theft claim rising over 15% from 2016 to 2017.

Research into vehicle theft across 43 police forces in England and Wales showed that most cases go unsolved, with as many as 75% of reported thefts being closed without ever finding a suspect.

== Tips for Keeping Your Tools Safe ==

With such news in mind, tradespeople are advised to take the following precautions to protect their valuable tools.

* Leave no tools inside a vehicle overnight - tools should be taken indoors and stored in a safe, secure location.
* Park in a safe location - Security experts recommend parking in well-lit areas with plenty of footfall that are in view of a CCTV camera. Ideally, vans should be parked with side or rear doors up against a wall so that they can't be accessed.
* Invest in extra security for vehicle - Window grills and tints can serve as an effective deterrent for would-be thieves, while an internal locking system can make breaking in much more difficult.
* Secure your van’s windows - To help keep tools out of eyesight and prevent easy accessibility, secure your windows using grills or tints.
* Keep a note of your tool’s serial numbers - Whenever you purchase a new tool, make sure to take a note of the serial number. If your tool is found after being stolen, it will help distinguish if an item is actually yours, or a similar one.

Other suggestions include marking tools and keeping a note of serial numbers so that they can be identified if found and keeping being sure to take out tool insurance to reduce the financial burden of a theft.

[[Category:Construction_management]]

4 Eco-Cities of the Future

2018-11-05T13:53:59Z

Powertools2u: Created page with "Despite the urban population taking up just 2% of the world’s land, we use 75% of the world’s resources. With the world population estimated to reach 9.7 billion by 2050, co..."

Despite the urban population taking up just 2% of the world’s land, we use 75% of the world’s resources.

With the world population estimated to reach 9.7 billion by 2050, conscious countries are building their own eco-cities, hoping to provide a solution to the environmental crisis’ they are currently facing.

[https://www.powertools2u.co.uk Powertools2U] have uncovered the construction plans of [https://www.powertools2u.co.uk/blog/cities-near-future/ four eco-cities of the future], with each one maximising space and minimising commissions.

Eco-Cities of the Near Future:

Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-city (China)

* What was once a dumping ground for toxic waste, is soon to be the world’s largest eco-city.
* At least 50% of the residents will have jobs within the city, which will lessen the air pollution from transport.
* 20% of the energy will be generated from renewable sources such as solar, wind and geothermal energy.
* There will be pneumatic waste collection tunnels that will remove the need for rubbish trucks.

New Clark City (Philippines)

* 66% of the city will consist of green areas, such as farmlands and parks.
* The city will use the mudflow material, Lahar, as an eco-friendly alternative to concrete.
* Buildings will be equipped with technology that will reduce water and energy consumption.
* As the Philippines has an air-pollution problem which affects 98% of the residents, the new city will reliant on public transport.

Quayside, Toronto (Canada)

* 50% of the city’s roof will be solar panelled.
* By generating 10% of its power, the community will be semi-self-sufficient.
* Construction methods will be introduced to create buildings that are quicker, greener and cheaper to usual Toronto houses.

Pena Station (Colorado)

* As a sunny location, there will be an abundance of rooftop solar panels to generate renewable energy.
* The city will have its own microgrid that will store excess solar energy for backup.
* Panasonic is planning on opening up a headquarters a short four-minute walk from the train station, cutting down the need for cars.

[[Category:Construction_techniques]]

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Tool theft in the construction industry

4 Eco-Cities of the Future