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Tool theft was a huge topic for Tradespeople in 2020, with one insurer estimating that a third of tradespeople have had their tools stolen – plumbing, heating and ventilation contractors being the 4th most impacted trade. The #novanber campaign started the previous year gained more traction, and the risk of tool theft was described by some news outlets as a ‘National epidemic’. Nathan Gambling, host of the plumbing and heating podcast BetaTalk and training consultant had his own upsetting experience.

\"Last year I had my own tools stolen. In some ways it was my own fault. I'd laid some of them out on the pavement for a social media photo before transporting them into the garage of my ex-wife ready to work on the bathroom for her and my daughter. I must have been seen and that night the garage was broken into. Unlike many I've come to the end of my \"on the tools\" career. I can only begin to imagine the extra anxiety this causes to trades people who rely so much on their tools.

Some of which end up being sentimental. It sounds silly but I'll always miss the pipe benders I grew up with.\"

There’s no sign yet that these crime levels are reducing in 2021. Daily, social media posts report another tradesperson affected by tool theft. Vans and construction sites are targeted, with thieves breaking in to vans in public places – often on the owner’s driveways.

Although we’ve seen some pretty amazing growth over the last few years, with 39 trade counters now all over the country, we don’t want to become out of touch with what challenges our customers face. We listen to what our customers have to say, and with tool theft being such a hot topic, we began to wonder what we could do to help.

“Every day, we hear of another of our customers whose van has been broken into, and whose tools have been stolen. The devastating effects of tool crime are not limited to the value of the tools themselves, as there is also the damage to the vehicle, days of disruption to planned work and the reputational risk as valued client’s projects are delayed. There is also a psychological impact on small businesses and self-employed individuals, which should not be under-rated. With the support of partners including Makita, Kane and Armorgard, we have established “Tool Angel” – a service which provides an immediate secure set of loan power tools and a top of the range flue gas analyser to keep their business viable in the first weeks after the crime occurs.” says Ray Stafford, MD

What can we do when we can’t stop tool theft? We can relieve the impact that tool theft has on our customers livelihood, and help them get back on the tools, fast. We got our heads together with a couple of suppliers and came up with a solution for a customers which lessens the impact of the crime – Tool Angel.

When a customer is effected by tool theft they can call our National Customer Service Team with the crime number and a drop off location, and the team will deliver a Tool Angel kit, worth over £2300, to them within our normal delivery times (On the same day for many postcodes).

The recipient has full use of the secure Armorgard tool box, a range of quality Makita power tools and Kane gas analyser for free for two weeks. At the end of that period, we will collect the tools free of charge. Each supplier has been very supportive of our new initiative, and are pleased to be involved.

List of Tool Angel content:

A Makita tool bag

18v Combi drill

18v impact driver

240v core drill

18v circular saw

3 x 5.0 ah batteries

Twin charger

18v reciprocating saw

18v angle grinder

18v multitool

18v jigsaw

18v torch

Core drill set

Kane 458 flue gas analyser with printers

Glynis Dewhirst, Head of Marketing from Armorgard said:

“Working with Williams Plumbing on the Tool Angel campaign was a no brainer for Armorgard. Both companies share the same values and are equally dedicated to customer service and product quality. Tool Angel is a brilliant idea and we’re delighted that our TuffBanks – the only site boxes to be accredited “Sold Secure” and “Secured by Design” – can be part of the solution to getting tradesman back up and running after they’ve had their tools stolen.

Protecting tools and equipment from theft is a constant challenge for Armorgard’s customers. We are all aware of the terrible statistic - tools are stolen from tradesmen in the UK every 23 minutes, often with devastating effects on businesses and livelihoods. We are continually improving our products and we work in collaboration with end users to provide the best solutions and to ensure that there’s a box for every job and every wallet”

It was also important for us to source a quality tool – as we didn’t want to let the Tool Angel recipient down with inferior kit, so we partnered with Makita to make sure that the tools supplied were up to the job.

Lastly, we’ve popped in the Kane Gas Analyser because we know that the analyser is sometimes the most important thing in the box…

“We got involved in Tool Angel as we saw it as a genuinely good thing to do. Everyone knows Williams & Co for their outstanding customer service, here at KANE we value customer service as a priority, and Tool Angel epitomises putting the customer first.

Unfortunately tool theft is an epidemic in the UK at the moment. Yes, we can all put things into place to help this – for instance, we have a stolen analyser checker, and return analysers back to their rightful owner when they are returned for service – but tool theft will still continue. Tool Angel helps those affected at one of their toughest times by supporting them and helping to get back on their feet.” Tom McCue, KANE Sales Director

Matt, a plumber from Portsmouth who only got his business up and running 5 months ago, was working late at night when his tools were stolen. Thieves took the opportunity when his attention was diverted to take almost all of the tools from his van. He still had his circular saw left, but the rest of his tools were gone.

“Everything had gone including the pipe. They didn’t get the batteries but they got all of the tool bodies. They must have been listening for me”

We had launched Tool Angel only days beforehand, but word had already reached Matt about the service and our team were able to get a kit out to him fast.

“It’s just after Christmas, it’s been the worst possible timing. I’ve only been in business five months, I’ve spent everything I’ve made on tools so that’s everything gone. I don’t have the money, so having Tool Angel there has kept me in business. Williams have been amazing, I wouldn’t have been able to carry on without them. Got all the tools necessary for me to carry on, and it’s for free”

If Matt hadn’t had Tool Angel to hand, he would have had to borrow money, or even worse, it might have been the end of his new expanding business.

“I wouldn’t have been able to finish the jobs without Williams”

With our Tool Angel service our customers can get back on their feet, keep their business and recover from a hugely negative experience which effects far too many tradespeople across the country.

We also realised that there would still be a struggle for those recipients of the Tool Angel kit. Some might take years to reaccumulate the stolen tools, so we decided to address that too. If, at the end of the free loan period the recipient decides they’d like to buy the tools, we also offer one year’s interest free credit payback scheme with a 15% discount, helping reduce and spread the cost of replacing expensive tool sets.

Ray is confident that we can reach out a helping hand to those customers affected by tool theft “Unfortunately, we can’t stop tool thieves, but we can help our customers who find themselves the victims of tool crime to recover quickly”.

www.armorgard.co.uk

www.makitauk.co.uk

www.kane.co.uk

The small print:

Elgibility for the Tool Angel kit:

To qualify for help from Tool Angel, individuals must have a crime number

Purchasing the Tool Angel kit:

The Tool Angel Kit’s retail value is over £2,300 + VAT – £2352.54 (£2823.05 including VAT)

All Tool Angel Kit recipients will have the option to purchase an entire kit at a 15% discount of £1999.74 + VAT (£2399.69 including VAT) at the end of the two week free loan period.

There is an option to spread this cost over 12 monthly payments of £166.65 + VAT (£199.97 including VAT)’

If an installer wishes to purchase the kit without a flue gas analyser then the price is £1490.74 + VAT (£1788.89 including VAT) , or 12 monthly payments of: £124.23 + VAT (£149.08 including VAT).

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