Six uniformed police officers wearing protective equipment including helmets marked with fluorescent writing showing collar numbers, take part in a raid of a house. Five are standing behind one officer who is forcing open the front door with a handheld battering ramImage source, Lincolnshire Police
Image caption,

Lincolnshire Police raided the homes of a rural gang behind a wave of tool thefts

ByAlex HomerShared Data Unit
  • Published1 hour ago

Traders' tools worth thousands of pounds were stolen somewhere in the UK every 20 minutes last year, figures show.

At least 26,164 tool thefts were recorded in 2025, based on responses from 30 police forces who shared data. The true figure is likely to be higher as a further 15 forces could not respond.

Gangs and "chancers" are behind the crimes, according to Labour MP Amanda Martin, who is calling for her government to do more to help.