Stolen tools on site?

[Sparky_marky2]

Hey all,

Just like to know your thoughts on stolen tools on site, I was working a job awhile back for Derby uni and the spark I was working with had a Makita Impact drill + battery stolen out of his bag even though we were working in a quiet area and we went upstairs to collect materials no more than 5 minutes and his drill was gone. I've also had a few drivers and cable cutters stolen on site too in the past.
Surely they can't expect us to carry our tools everywhere we go or to padlock and close the tool bag? How about if you have the open tote bag? Why would you steal from the people you work with?!

Be great to know your thoughts

 

[Pete999]

Hey all,

Just like to know your thoughts on stolen tools on site, I was working a job awhile back for Derby uni and the spark I was working with had a Makita Impact drill + battery stolen out of his bag even though we were working in a quiet area and we went upstairs to collect materials no more than 5 minutes and his drill was gone. I've also had a few drivers and cable cutters stolen on site too in the past.
Surely they can't expect us to carry our tools everywhere we go or to padlock and close the tool bag? How about if you have the open tote bag? Why would you steal from the people you work with?!

Be great to know your thoughts

Anyone stealing a trades person's tools or equipment, should be rightly prosecuted if caught, the punishment dished out by the courts will be lenient, as is the general rule, but if youre caught on site nicking tools, look out rough justice will be dispensed.

 

[Midwest]

Its a cruel world, full of thieving bar stewards. So if you don't want things to disappear, take sensible precautions.

 

[Pete999]

Its a cruel world, full of thieving bar stewards. So if you don't want things to disappear, take sensible precautions.

Agree, but not always possible, tools on site, no matter who they belong to should be sacrosanct, anyone caught nicking them should be dealt with quickly by the people who are the owners, forget the Police if caught on site, feral justice rules imo. Put into other words if I caught anyone nicking my kit, the culprit would need to visit A&E on his way home.

 

[Squid]

I look at it this way, you never ever steal a mans tools as these are the things he uses to work with to feed himself and his family. Anyone that steals tools is utter scum.

The only way is a metal lockable toolbox chained to something if you have to leave it, I don't even like lending tools to people as some people don't know how to respect them.

 

[Pete999]

Deleted.

 

[Leesparkykent]

One of my apprentices is a good lad but right lairy if he has to be.....working on a site and he had a twin charger with two 18v battery's on charge in the site hut. The wood butchers final day on site and it went missing .....As the wood butcher was about to drive off site he ran over and made him get out the van (I say made him get out, more like dragged him out). Went through his van and found the charger and both battery's...My apprentice put one on his chin there and then and put him on his back side. The site manager came out and said fair play and told the wood butcher he won't be working on any of his sites again

 

[Leesparkykent]

Another story about the same apprentice as mentioned above......Done a job for a new builder and there was a couple of extras that amounted to about £150. Got paid for the job but the builder kept on swerving me for the £150. He kept on saying I'll post it through your door and it just never materialised. Any way about 6 months later my apprentice was driving past Howdens and see his van in there. He pulled in and parked up and waited for the builder to come out. Sure enough he comes out but he's with his labourer. My apprentice sneaked up the passenger side of the van and made the labourer get out, he jumped in and told the builder that he's going to go with him now up the cash point to get the £150. He made this builders labourer stand in the car park whilst he made him drive up the cash point . I was at home unaware of what had just happened and got a knock at the door, it was my apprentice laughing with £150 in his hand.... he explained what happened, both had a right good chuckle over it and I let him keep the £150 for all his efforts The builder text me a couple of hours later apologising for taking the pee and to ask if my apprentice will leave him alone if he sees him again haha

 

[Pete999]

Another story about the same apprentice as mentioned above......Done a job for a new builder and there was a couple of extras that amounted to about £150. Got paid for the job but the builder kept on swerving me for the £150. He kept on saying I'll post it through your door and it just never materialised. Any way about 6 months later my apprentice was driving past Howdens and see his van in there. He pulled in and parked up and waited for the builder to come out. Sure enough he comes out but he's with his labourer. My apprentice sneaked up the passenger side of the van and made the labourer get out, he jumped in and told the builder that he's going to go with him now up the cash point to get the £150. He made this builders labourer stand in the car park whilst he made him drive up the cash point . I was at home unaware of what had just happened and got a knock at the door, it was my apprentice laughing with £150 in his hand.... he explained what happened, both had a right good chuckle over it and I let him keep the £150 for all his efforts The builder text me a couple of hours later apologising for taking the pee and to ask if my apprentice will leave him alone if he sees him again haha

One useful Apprentice you have there Lee

 

[Midwest]

I seem to recall a thread about people dishing out their own justice to thieving scum burgling their properties, where I suggested reasonable force was justifiable. A lot disagreed, saying the law wasn't on their side.

Seems we have a different viewpoint when it comes to tools. Buyer beware

 

[telectrix]

as long as they don't nick my combi drill. need that for drilling their kneecaps. oh.and my hand axe for chopping off sticky fingers.

 

[Squid]

Another story about the same apprentice as mentioned above......

I think your apprentice is wasted, I could make better use of him and increase his earnings in the mean time if you are both up for it.

 

[Pete999]

I seem to recall a thread about people dishing out their own justice to thieving scum burgling their properties, where I suggested reasonable force was justifiable. A lot disagreed, saying the law wasn't on their side.

Seems we have a different viewpoint when it comes to tools. Buyer beware

Stolen tool retribution, doesn't attract the same interest as general public vigilantism. Tool theft is usually dealt with onsite out of the notice of the long arm of the Law. with the culprit far too ashamed of what he has done to warrant reporting it, bit like the Cosa Nostra, out of site out of mind, with the added bonus of knowing full well he wouldn't do it again, rock on.

 

[Sparky_marky2]

as long as they don't nick my combi drill. need that for drilling their kneecaps. oh.and my hand axe for chopping off sticky fingers.

They won't take the drill they'll just pinch the battery!! ... and make sure its set to Hammer

 

[Sparky_marky2]

I agree, my feeling is it tends to be people of other trades who see an opportunity to pinch your tools and they'll be off, I can't see another spark stealing off another spark.

Pete999: youre right they should be prosecuted but 99% of the time the site managers response is "bad luck mate, your tools should of kept them safe"... even though we're there to help him get the job done. Anyway we keep all tools in the van and literally take in what we need and take a small lockable box with a padlock, it slows the job down as it means running back and fourth, its the same with step ladders on site leave them for one second and they go wondering off as someones "borrowed" them