Tool Security

We see the value in the tools of your trade, but so do offenders.

Police recognise that the impact of tool theft is not limited to the cost of a tool being replaced.

For small business owners or contractors, the time it takes to replace tools can result in wage lost and customer jobs delayed. 

Queensland Police are working with the community to prevent tool theft. Officers are asking tool owners to secure their tools by locking their homes and vehicles and securing their gear.

Prevention strategies

To prevent tool theft, police are encouraging tool owners to:

1. Lock up your tools:

   • Opportunistic thieves look out for easily accessible tools.
   • Remove or secure your valuable items.
   • Keep them out of sight and behind locked doors.
   • If you must leave your valuables in your vehicle, fix your locked toolbox to the tray of your Ute or the floor of your vehicle.
   • Lock all toolboxes with a visible lock as they can be a deterrent. 

2. Mark your tools with unique identification details and record them:

   • Tools with your name or licence marked on them are harder for thieves to sell.
   • Not only do these identifiers help police reunite the tools with their rightful owner, but they also act as a deterrent to theft in the first place.
   • Record details such as the make and model of your tools and take photos, so you can identify exactly what was stolen.

3. Secure your work vehicle:

   • Always lock your vehicle when it is unattended, including at work sites, and even if you are only leaving for a couple of minutes.
   • Secure all windows, including the sunroof.
   • Park vehicles or trailers off the street (ideally in a garage) or in well-lit areas and in places covered by CCTV.

4. Assess your security:

   Consider:

   • installing an anti-theft audible alarm system to storage compartments, toolboxes, and trailers,
   • installing CCTV where your tools are stored,
   • hiding trackers in high value items.

5. Look out for suspicious behaviour:

   • Whether you are at home or on the job site, keep an eye out for suspicious behaviour, for example, people loitering around construction sites or vehicles.
   • If you notice suspicious behaviour, make a record of it, and report it to police.

What to do if your tools have been stolen

• Report it to police immediately via our stolen property form at police.qld.gov.au or contact Policelink on 131 444 for assistance

• If the crime is happening now or if there is an immediate risk to your safety, call Triple Zero (000). 

• Social media is a useful way to stay connected with family and friends, but it is not an official platform to report crime. If you are the victim of tool theft, please report the matter directly to police.