Shockingly, 1 in 10 tradespeople can expect to have their tools stolen this year, with many of them already having been through this three times or more.
๐๐๐จ๐ฉ ๐ฎ๐๐๐ง ๐ฅ๐ค๐ก๐๐๐ ๐๐ค๐ช๐ฃ๐ ยฃ๐๐,๐๐๐ ๐ค๐ ๐จ๐ฉ๐ค๐ก๐๐ฃ ๐ฉ๐ค๐ค๐ก๐จ ๐๐ค๐ก๐ก๐ค๐ฌ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ ๐ง๐๐๐ ๐๐ฉ ๐๐ฃ ๐๐๐๐ง๐๐จ๐จ ๐๐ฃ ๐๐ก๐๐๐๐ข, ๐จ๐๐ค๐ฌ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐ฃ๐๐ช๐จ๐ฉ๐ง๐๐๐ก ๐จ๐๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ค๐ง๐๐๐ฃ๐๐จ๐๐ ๐ฃ๐๐ฉ๐ช๐ง๐ ๐ค๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐ง๐๐ข๐.
Over 12,600 people in Oldham are employed in skilled trades such as electricians, plumbers, carpenters, bricklayers, and construction workers. This sector is a vital component of Oldham’s economy, contributing significantly to both employment and the development of our community’s infrastructure.
On average, stolen tools cost around ยฃ2,730, van repairs cost around ยฃ1,320, and finally a cost of ยฃ1,900 through lost work and business disruption. Tool theft clearly creates a huge cost burden for tradespeople as well as disrupting vital community work.
๐ผ๐จ๐๐๐ ๐๐ง๐ค๐ข ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐ค๐จ๐ฉ, ๐ฉ๐๐๐ง๐ ๐๐จ ๐ ๐ฅ๐ง๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ฅ๐ก๐ ๐ฌ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ค๐๐จ ๐๐ฉ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ง๐ฉ ๐ค๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐จ ๐๐ง๐๐ข๐; ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐๐ซ๐๐จ ๐ ๐ฃ๐ค๐ฌ๐๐ฃ๐๐ก๐ฎ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ฌ๐๐ฎ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ก๐๐ฉ๐ฎ ๐ค๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ซ๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ข ๐ฉ๐ค ๐๐๐ง๐ฃ ๐ ๐ก๐๐ซ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฅ๐ง๐ค๐ซ๐๐๐ ๐๐ค๐ง ๐ฉ๐๐๐๐ง ๐๐๐ข๐๐ก๐ฎ.
Currently, those convicted of tool theft would only serve a community order opposed to a sentence that considers the impact tool theft has on the loss of trade. In April, Amanda Martin MP’s Ten Minute Rule Bill will return to Parliament raising the case for tougher sentencing and shining a light on the crime that so many tradespeople routinely face.
We need tougher action on tool theft and justice for tradespeople so they have the assurance they can get on with the job.
Jim McMahon OBE MP 