As a hardworking tradesman, your tools are your lifeline, enabling you to tackle challenging projects and earn a living, but with tool theft costing the construction industry an estimated $1 billion annually, are you doing enough to safeguard your valuable assets?
Much business advice is given regarding the protection of inventory, warehouses, stock, and products displayed on shelves. All of that is, of course, important to know.
However, such advice can sometimes leave out the little guy, from the tradesperson working and traveling with portable tools like the Kemppi Miniarc Evo 140 every day to mobile barbers who go from house to house cutting hair, even to tattooists and similar professionals that hold expensive equipment within a humble studio.
That’s why managing your workday is essential for productivity, meeting your clients, and protecting your expensive equipment. Too many tradesmen can suffer tool theft, mainly on-site, so taking steps to prevent that is essential. Insurance is an excellent place to start, but claims can take time, and you need tools to work in the interim. With that in mind, please consider:
An alarm-triggered van can help you immediately become notified that a theft has taken place. Modern vans are also equipped with immobilizing tools that help prevent thieves trying to steal the entire vehicle from driving far off with them. From here, you can call law enforcement. Parking in your driveway covered by a camera and motion-sensitive floodlights can also make the space more identifiable. Ensure you have a sign present to showcase no tools left on the van overnight, and any attempt to open the door without the correct key will set off an alarm. This way, you can keep your tools safe.
In some cities, tool sharing networks can be invested in to give you a quick replacement should a small tool go missing. This way, you can process your insurance claim while ensuring you have access to what you need to finish a job. Moreover, you can put the word out about your missing tools and have other contractors report any that are being sold. If you note down the serial numbers of each power tool and engrave them with your company name, it can make it harder for thieves to sell them and make a profit.
GPS tracking to toolboxes can also provide great utility if correctly managed. Small GPS trackers activated when moved can help you identify them, allowing you to notify law enforcement properly. Toolboxes are also fantastic for hiding small nodes of GPS or an Air Tag to keep your belongings safe. That way, you will know when, where, and who your tools have flown offer to or with. In this case, having that extra contingency could help you recover your tools completely. Even having a “this toolbox is tracked” sign could make someone think twice about removing them from a given location.
By following this advice, you can enhance the security of your tools, allowing you to focus on your business and the valued clients it serves, knowing that your tools are protected and ready for use.
