Tool theft
Your tools are your livelihood — and thieves know it. Here's how to make yourself a harder target, and what to do if you're hit.
Tool theft in Australia is rising fast
Your tools are your livelihood, and thieves know it. In Victoria alone, more than $40 million worth of tools were stolen from vehicles and properties in 2024–25 — up on the year before — and tools are now among the most-stolen items in the country, with claims spiking over the summer break. Whether you've already been hit or you want to make sure you're not next, start here.
The fixes are cheap next to a stolen ute-load: mark your gear, lock it down, log the serial numbers, and know exactly what to do in the first hour if it's gone.
Where to go next
Vehicle security & tool theft
Mark it, lock it, log it — and exactly what to do in the first hour if your gear's gone.
Tools & transit insurance
What 'tools in transit' and 'tools on site' cover actually means, and the precautions insurers expect before they'll pay out.
Plant & equipment register (free tool)
Log your gear with serial numbers and service dates — the record the police and your insurer will ask for.