All of his tools were stolen...
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Stealing a working person’s tools is just terrible. I’m sorry for the tradesman’s loss and the economic impact on his family. Stay safe, healthy and secured.
Tips on the insurance: Get individual location trackers and secure them to the inside of the tool's case; this makes it easy for law enforcement to track down the equipment and for you to legit identify it as yours. Registered ID trackers will frequently earn you a discount from your insurance company. You can also get a special electric brand(essentially a custom soldering iron) made with your logo or signature and you can brand your tools, which also deters casual theft and makes recovery easier. Second: always insure for the replacement value of the tool. Tools depreciate as fast as cars do, and the insurance company only wants to pay the depreciated value. Don't let them. Insure for the replacement value. Document the replacement value by taking screenshots of the exact tool and model number (not on a discount sale) and attach the screenshot to the inventory you submit for the separate tools rider. Remember to include an extra 15% for cases, chargers, securing straps, trackers, etc. for the replacement tools. An Excel spreadsheet with photos, proof of replacement value screenshots, serial numbers, and tracker ID numbers is a God send if you have to make a claim. Good luck to you all!
The soldering solution isn't a valid one. The ones who steal go straight to the foundry and get back 5% of the tool value, unfortunately.
@@atsimas Oh, dear. I am merely repeating the advice of a security blogger who said it would be a deterrent for anyone who wants to pawn the tool.
@@lindacgrace2973I think it's a good deterrent along with all the rest of your suggestions. I just had about 1k$ worth of tools stolen from car a few months ago
“Spanish Palms Mortuary Transport”
Never been broken into…
I began in this field in 1982. I had one tool stolen from me and it still bothers me. It was in like, 1991.
Guy still remembers it, every tool is dear to them, I have a router jig I have used a total of 1 time, if it gets stolen, I'll remember it for the next 40 years just like you sir
I took a video of all my garage valuables (including serial numbers when I could find them) and uploaded it to UA-cam as an unlisted video.
stealing a guy's tools is the lowest of the low. the tool bag I wear on my hip probably worth $2,000
Just replace your systainers into Ryobi Link toolboxes, the thieves will feel so bad they'll leave some cash behind to pay for the broken window without stealing anything
I have a friend who has a business operating a fenced, secured (staffed 24 hours) parking area for independent contractors' tool trucks. You drive in in the morning, leave your personal vehicle, and take your truck. He's had to expand twice. He now has a climate controlled building for people who need to leave certain equipment in a climate controlled space.
That indemnification can be pricey, but I'm glad places like your friend's exist 👍
Right on, $44,000 loss, insurance offered $5000. All stolen items were itemized on an insurance list and insured for replacement value.
I'd say fuck insurance, and just start saving up a "i'm going to get robbed one day" fund.
Did you lawyer up? Because that's CRAP!
We only exist as customers for insurance companies so insurance companies can continue to have their name on billion dollar stadiums.
Insurance is a joke!!!
Yup, health insurance in particular. Single Payer Health Insurance like every other developed country would sure be nice! Those zillion dollar profit statements? Money they took from you and me as middlemen between you and healthcare. Home insurance in many places is getting expensive too :(
And we do nothing about it, because doing anything would be "socialism".
Can't stand a thief, but to steal a mans tools is stealing his livelihood from him and his family. People have died for less.
I don’t want to tip you off but I might be coming for your lemon trees.
Too late,got them while he waited at the stop light
Even the fruit trees come in Festool green,nice touch.
My dad had all his tools stolen out of his pickup truck, which was parked in a busy mall at the time. The tools were in one of those lockboxes and they just pricked the locks. My father was absolutely crestfallen.
Define: crestfallen
Adjective
Sad and disappointed
“He came back empty-handed and crestfallen”
I know people make fun of people with harbor freight, Ryobi, Hart, etc. But I buy and use those tools only ( except for my miter saw). They works good enough, you just may have to buy a new tool more often. But if they get rained on, dropped, or lost, I'm not losing my mind because I spent so much on them. And most of all no one will steal them because they are not worth anything to a pawn shop. Just my two cents.
We put metal grid wall panels inside our van over the windows. Not greatest look, but they’re bolted to the van itself. If someone broke the window they would also have to cut through those. Doubles as a place we hang extension cords, belts, random things that aren’t boxed up.
Yup, I had my whole truck stolen 25+ years ago. Stopped by a wateringhole on the way home after a late day in some seedy town to grab a few beers and a burger dinner. Come out and my truck is gone, with all the tools, air, compressor, generator, ladders, ladder rack, side boxes you name it, it was on there.
Back then, didn’t even think about insuring the tools, just thought if it was on the truck, it would be insured with the truck… Nope it was a complete loss the truck was never found and basically got paid the depreciation value of the truck, which was older to begin with so basically I got nothing in but a few thousand dollars.
That was rough.
Dude, it's very easy! Get your vehicle to a shop and install an after-market alarm system that disables the ignition too. Mine has a remote starter as well, but you don't need to go extra fancy. And if done properly (hard to reach placement of the siren and module) and with the broken glass/tilt/shock sensors, your van will be much better protected and your tools as well. On my van, just the attempt to check on the doors triggers the alarm (sometimes that feature annoys me, but I'm glad it's there). It will cost you some money but it's worth spending it. Even the insurance will be happy and may lower your premium because of that. DO NOT rely on the factory anti-theft. That's garbage. If you need help, let me know. Seriously!
Hey buddy Im a gardner in Los Angeles drive a Transit and just got broken into three weeks ago today.
Let me know what you recommend I desperately need to protect my equipment.
Thanks
I have thousands of dollars of tools in my van. At the end of the day. I bring my most expensive in the house. It takes years to accumulate tools. Good tools are expensive. I feel bad the guy. Tools are our entire business. Without our tools our busy is dead
Maybe if everybody that does Contracting like we do was to have a shop garage and everything locked into the garage with no windows then nothing would come up missing
That only helps at home. 7 years ago my van got done on a Saturday lunchtime on the street outside the job I was working on. They cleared most of my van out in about 20 mins £5000 of tools gone
Maybe everyone can’t afford a garage.
Tint your windows and put cages on them. The cable is a good idea too. An upgraded key-fob / alarm (i.e. viper) might be worth it as well. Sometimes insurance companies will lower your payments for stuff like that.
Etch your tools.
Paint your tools
Photograph you model/serial numbers
Doesn't help one bit...Philly building contractor since the late 80's...take photos and serial numbers and Receipts...Make sure your insurance policy covers the loss...No matter what; it's the bucket filled with jobbing tools or tool boxes with years of equipment that hurts the most; you can't recover it all and you lose a lot by depreciation...
@@godbluffvdgg My brother etched my name on my camera and it got stolen - when the thief was caught years for stealing other stuff the cops called me from 5 states away and I got the camera back. I am still incredulous about that.
Hide AirTags in them if possible.
@@maddierosemusic That's great that you got your property back...Sometimes it works...
I’m in the UK and we have exactly the same problem. I bought an engraving tool and I mark every tool I buy with my name and Post Code.
The police are currently still looking for the vehicle. At this point it is a total loss.
Been there boss
Tools always come up missing and no one knows anything
Apple AirTags in all my toolboxes and on all large items, it’s not 100% but it’s better than nothing
@@noahprice1250 facts when they do everyone looks dumb like wtf wasn't me
@@The_Council_Basher Batteries don't last too long in those Air Tags, at least in the heat here in Texas.
A couple air tags hidden in the vehicle and big tools would be a cheap bit of insurance if you are on Apple. No subscription fees, only the air tag purchase. Battery’s last a year or more
I would consider concealing air tags in various places in your rig/tools. It will buy you time to locate the equipment. I have known this to be done with great success.
It’s not if you get hit, it’s “when”,
Heads up from someone with tool insurance, they only gave me 5k, they will ask how long you’ve had the tools, then they will add depreciation to it according to how long you’ve had it, to put this in prospective, 1yr old will be about 50% of original price, my slide saw was over 10yrs old and is no longer in production so it was worth almost nothing in the ins eyes but to me I wouldn’t have traded it for a new saw, as a trim carpenter, my tools only appreciate the longer I use it, the ins is opposite. I had well over 5k worth of hand tools and drill bits routers and router bits and small items that it’s impossible to document, like my 3/4”&1” plug cutters,or my mortise and tenon router bits or my spring loaded nail sets or my chisels etc etc, to replace all my tools would’ve taken at least 15k, they gave me 5k
I had a job trailer that I had MANURE SALES AND DELIVERY on the side of it. Never had any problems.
No shit!
Bullshit
Yeah, it happened to me a few years ago. No insurance, total loss. In my case, the lesson is pack your tools up and take them with you every day, leave nothing on the job site.
I feel the pain. They got into my van and cleaned me out.
Me too. Three weeks ago. Im a gardner/landscaper had all my gardening equipment plus a ton of packout boxes with all sorts of tools
Yes making sure you catalog your tool's is a great asset for you if they get stolen or destroyed! I have heard some real horror stories about people trying to get replacements!
I used to do inner city repairs and always packed. I'm older now and just turn down that part of the business. sad. always met good people who were always grateful for my work. terrible news my man .
Put security system on separate battery / elec system . They crawl under vehicle and cut the battery cables which disables the alarm system
Have a look at some of the van security upgrades they do in the UK, they have a lot of good solutions
I had around $4500.00 of tools stolen a couple of years ago. The insurance only paid $2500.00 because they considered them non-personal items. Really? They were very personal to me.
Good on you Richard! Criminals need to fear the working man!!
A company I worked for had electric dead bolts installed on the sliding and rear doors. Along with GPS tracking.
It is not only the vehicles. I was talking to the guys at Home Depot who said that they have a huge problem with tool theft.
Ours has everything locked up. Now if I want to buy a tool, I have to wait 15 to 20 minutes for someone to unlock the cage and get the correct box out. Then walk me to the counter. As a near 50 year old American citizen this is insulting. I ain't the person stealing stuff.
Document everything in the van,including model and serial numbers,to help if you have a loss,it makes the process easier!
GET HOCKEY PUCK VAN DOOR LOCKS. I have the hockey puck locks with the Hideaway shackle, so there’s no drilling through the door
Been there. Had my truck broken into three times in a matter of about six months. Worst feeling ever. Almost went to ryobi so people would quit stealing it. And you’re right. Insurance don’t do much. I got 750$ back for about 20-25 grand worth of tools and batteries stolen
I always look for Ryobi tools in pawn shops and flea markets THEN I keep my yellow tools and my red tools in the Ryobi Bags/Cases. I think it works; get teased at the job site. At the end of the day some one who wants to steal is gonna find a way
T Mobile Drive Upsync is a great line of defense from my experience. It's $10 a month. Texts you if your vehicle is touched. Tracks everything including business mileage. etc. It can be put on an extension cord from the obd port so it is inconspicuous. Give you Mobile wifi for mobile office support. Has many parameters to adjust pertaining to alerts straight to your phone immediately. War Lock shackle plate locks are great as well as a first line of defense. Just my 2 cents
Obviously dash cams are great as well.
Been through this exact issue 4 months ago. It suck, business insurance didn't cover the loss at all. If I had renters insurance it would have been covered. Lesson learned
Investigate Dashcam with 3rd interior camera and a battery for Parking mode so video is recording when parked.
3M and others make security window film/tint that holds the glass when broken. It's perfect for what you're talking about.
Regular old tint will do the same, it only takes a little more effort to get past that kind of thing.
I created a tool inventory worksheet when I first went into business, mostly because my state lets you count the value of your truck and tools toward the total asset value required for the top tier of general contractor's license. I've kept it up to date and always record model and serial numbers, acquisition cost, etc. so I've at least got something to show to the insurance adjuster and cops if necessary. I'm not optimistic about getting a fair shake on a claim, though. Insurance companies exist for two reasons-to collect premiums and to avoid paying claims.
You have to have the original receipts and they pro-rate the value. Then to top it off you will pay a higher premium for however long they deem necessary.
My son said a construction company from out of town dropped the big tool boxes, worked all day, and then left to the hotel without locking it up. They got everything stolen. But they didn't think our city was a city where that would happen, so they didn't do their due diligence and lock it up! Sorry about your friend! That's terrible.
At one of my jobs in Manhattan they pulled up in a truck, put out cones, and they wear high vis vests and hardhats. And they act like tradespeople. They stole the entire jobsite once cost me thousands. I was just one of a dozen subs that got hit. The GC said he would pay all the subs back. I never got a dollar. Still had to buy all my guys new tools. Unfortunately a cable and even a gangbox is no match for a demo saw..
Stuff in Arizona gets stolen all the time. You can't even leave your tools on the job site for a 30 minute lunch break without being worried
I've had well over 10k worth of tools stolen from me a few months ago here in the DFW area also. It's unbelievable how bad it sets you back.
This happened to me last year and I financed new ones and within 3 weeks they took them again. It’s tough!
I have the sprinter crew 2500, you can buy additional protection cage for your windows
i have samsung smart trackers hidden in every vehicle and on every pet i own. they are cheap and they work great. you could even attach them inside some larger tools.
Here in New Jersey you must have the commercial vehicle lettered or be fined. Commercial plates, it has to be lettered.
Aren't you not allowed to pump your own gas there? That place has a few other wacky laws.
@@SharpestBulbs That is correct. New Jersey is the last state to keep the prohibition on customers pumping their own gas. However, the fine for that act would be on the gas station and the law is enforced by the agency that verifies gas. In reality, "getting caught" is tantamount to winning the lottery.
@@SharpestBulbs can't pump your gas in Oregon as well.🧐
@@SharpestBulbs yeah, i had to help someone with a rental car who was from jersey. must have been their first time out of state or something, lol
Just FYI: I’m not a wacky liberal.
My carpenter tools have been stolen twice in the last year! Even when i was in middle of using them had tools set up outside building was going in and out cutting trim and installing and dude was outside loading my tools as i was inside nailing trim in place..
I use 2 Arlo Go Camera in my van, they have GPS tracking, live and recorded video as well as a built in alarm
Here’s a thought air tag or use gps tracking hidden on or in expensive tools so you can track stolen stuff.
My nephew was a finish carpenter in Plano in the late 60s or 70s, all of his tools were stolen, after that we went to work in the IT industry. Only thing he had stolen after that was his brand new, paid cash for vehicle which they had dropped off for it’s first service appointment and someone stole it from the dealership but only drove it to an apartment complex off of 635, the crook only put around 20 miles on it. The dealership offered a free wash when they got it back. 😊 ( wouldn’t be my dealership after that)
i don't have a list of everything. i have paperwork on some of my bigger more expensive tools. what i do annually though is go through every tool cabinet and open each individual drawer and take a photo of what is in there. i also photo all the tools in the shop as well as boxes of fastners etc. if it is there, i have a picture of it.
It’s the same thing happens here in the U.K. I think it’s around 80% of all tradespeople have in some way been affected by tool theft. There are things you can do to make your vans (we call them vans ) more secure, as the manufacturers aren’t doing much to help make them more secure. Catalog everything, photo everything, look for somewhere to register everything.
In the UK, can you kill a person who you think is stealing your stuff from your driveway?
And, is it “the illegals” doing the stealing?
It is always a good idea to take pictures of your tools and their serial numbers in case they are stolen.
Here in the UK, Festool tools are insured against theft for 3 yrs as part of the initial purchase/registration. I'm assuming it's the same in the US
I understand not everyone has a garage big enough for their vehicles or a garage period but I have never understood why people think I'm crazy for going out of my way to make sure my cars can be parked in the garage, door closed, workbenches and tools on wheels to be stored allong the walls.
That's good, but they once got into my garage and stole all of my major tools. I hope it never happens to you, it's such a violation of trust.
@@stevef.8041 That would be unfortunate, and I wouldn't say it couldn't happen, but older openers have a static code for the remote. All it takes is for a person to be within 150 feet of you opening your door to steal the code.
You can now get door openers with an encrypted code that requires access to the main unit in order to program a new remote followed by additional steps.
Unless they are present at the time of programming a new remote or already have access to your house in the first place, it would be a lot easier to just look for an unlocked window around the house failure. Past this, the person would likely have very good information on your belongings to risk more invasive intrusions.
This is the worst feeling I know 2 well, as a carpenter you will always have eyes on you stay alert fellas
Thankfully the only thing I've ever had stolen from me was a Porter Cable Jobsite radio. That thing was so full of drywall mud and dust, I can't imagine why anyone would want it. I've taken considerable steps to secure my tools, and the trailer I pull them around in, including designing and building my own tongue lock that will take considerable effort, and make a lot of noise to defeat. I watched The Lock Picking Lawyer's channel and found a lock that he said was basically unpickable, without the special tool he fabricated, and use that in my tongue lock, and the hasps on the trailer doors. There are some other measures I won't discuss, but if someone steals from me they are going to work for it, but I do probably need to do an inventory and make sure my insurance is updated.
Exactly why I want to move out of state in New Jersey. Because I've been left paying that bill and the insurance company and the police saying oh well shouldn't have had tools inside your truck.
That's everywhere and not just for tools. Police give zero Fs about car break-ins!
I work in Fort worth also..had car toys install drone mobile on my truck and 16 foot tool trailer.. both GPS trackable..well worth the investment..just the blue light flashing on dash deters thieves.
If your vehicle have remote entry, put your key fob in a faraday cage. They can boost the range of the key fob to open and start your car.
If you under- 2:35 insure some policies have a clause where they will pay significantly less than what you lost. I had a friend get screwed that way. So doing an inventory and making sure your coverage reflects what you have is a good idea.
Its brutal down here in San Antonio, no part of town is safe anymore.
I'm wondering if there is an aftermarket van alarm system available. It would be great to know if someone is tampering with your vehicle while you are away or asleep. Also, if it made some noise then the thieves might leave when the alarm goes off.
Yes when I bought a beater van for my work it came with a Viper alarm system. It would wake the dead if they even shook the van. No windows either. Looks like a junker so thieves leave it alone.
Still in the middle of my insurance claim rn my tools were just stolen about 2-3 weeks ago. They broke my drivers side window and took $9,000 worth of tools. A year previous I had about $5,000 worth of tools stolen off a job site. I’m currently in Denver Colorado and it’s getting increasingly worse.
If you use a cable to secure your tools, don’t leave a cordless grinder in the van as well.
install a fuel shut off key , in a secret location that way your vehicle will not start ..
Well, you kind of scare me I’m a kitchen installer. I learn a lot from you. I have thousands of dollars in my truck and even tools aren’t worth anything, but I’m used to use them and I don’t make them anymore. It would be a nightmare.😅
Enjoy video 📹
Put a hidden kill switch to the fuel pump for $100 at your local mechanic. It has save my 90’s pickup twice. It has more than paid for itself twice. 👍👍
Yeah, that sux. I had the entire contents of a 14' cargo trailer stolen. It was enough tools for 5 man framing crew. Compressor, nailers, saws, etc. Luckily, insurance covered most of it.
Are those festool plums?
You can use magnetic signs for your vehicle
100% when you first started talking about your friend and insurance my first thought was do a camera walk through of your vehicle and tools contained there. Maybe even a spreadsheet for inventory. Probably an easy 20 K in tools. Maybe a bin bolted to the floor to stack you boxes in and locking bar on the bin to hold them all in. Nothing is fool proof given determination and thieves, but the deal is make it as much as a pain to get it out and they will pick an easier target. If thieves put as much effort into stealing things as they did working they might actually be successful!
you can get auto alarms with glass smash sensors bro
Your tools are far more protected in your van than they were inside your truck, Richard. I suggest you look into packrat tool boxes. They are good for installing into your van and they are another level of protection. Typically thieves are opportunities and are only looking for unlocked doors. Breaking a window is very rare in Arizona. However, a tool box takes it to a whole other level.
I do make readys and the tweakers squatters are crazy here in ft. Worth the actually try and jump in your truck bed to grab a hammer I lock my box and bring in my portable stack box even if I'm just painting its getting that bad people I stay armed when I'm inside cuz they will come in and wanna take ur keys, and that's from experience , stay vigalent fellow craftsmen
Please check festool insurance. In the first two years festool replace a tool for 50 bucks or so if it was stolen if you send them the police report. Maybe that is also available in your country.
Hide air tags inside the tools themselves, and track them if they cone up missing
Great idea. Also for the Sprinter van.
And do what? If you try to retrieve yourself, you'll likely get arrested. And the cops are too busy to chase down your stuff.
I had tools in storage as we were in between our new home being finished. Showed up one morning in October, the day after receiving a $10,000 deposit for a remodel, Over $15,000 worth of tools gone. I was devastated. The insurance company only covered $2,000. The storage unit was secured miles away from town they had “trouble” uploading the surveillance videos, you needed a code to get in and out, locks cut…to this day I believe it was an inside job. 🤔
A Texan doesn’t steal from another Texan!
That’s so much BS
Well it wouldn’t be a bad idea to add a few GPS trackers in different locations. Like cat GPS trackers are smaller and not really noticeable plus live tracking within 10 feet.
Man this happen to a friend. I was so mad. A tradesmen with out there tool is like fireman without water
I put a motorcycle chain with a massive lock through my trailer rim & leaf spring whenever i have to leave my work trailer at a job site. as far as protecting my tools from a break in I have an air tag hidden in the trailer, inside my miter saw, inside my table saw, and inside my compressor. I have all my serial numbers written down so if they try to pawn them it will get dinged & for insurance purposes.
I offered my heating/cooling guy a German Shepard I fostered for the tool van with Logo. Nope. Everything got stolen.
That's horrible. I feel so badly for your friend. I'd suggest purchasing a couple of Apple AirTags (I think you can get a pack of 4 for under $100). Pop them inside certain sustainers or tool bags. That way, if somebody is able to steal your stuff, you can track everything and tell the cops exactly where your stuff is.
In the uk it happens a lot and I have had my van broken in to 3 times and when I added up how much that was it was in uk money around £4000 that’s about $5000 in the us and every time it happened I lost work because of it and crazy the police in the uk are well let’s say not helpful at all so yes do what everything you can to protect your tools and your livelihood as well
I took precautions on my van ahead of time. Spray painted my windows black and reinforced from the inside. Hidden starter kill, exterior heavy duty lock on back and side doors, alarm with transmitter to notify me of a trigger, and loud ass sirens inside the cab so it makes you want to cover your ears making your hands useless to grab. Outside of that if they want it bad enough they will take it.
I'm in the Uk Scotland and my van has been totally emptied twice , once at my home and once on site around £32k ($40k) both times . First time I wasn't insured ... Police didn't even attend the scene only gave me a crime reference number for insurance purposes, even though I had cctv footage. A third time they attempted to break into my van at my home but I heard them and let out my dog who's 150lb+ , blood all over my drive but they slipped away . The police were on the scene in minutes only to caution me for setting the dog on them and basically do nothing else , £2k of damage to my van doors and body that time . Every tradesman in the uk has had tools stolen at least once and never heard a tale of them getting them back , the police and government just to not care as long as we keep paying tax . I've literally seen tradesmen in tears and having to take supermarket jobs as they can't afford to replace the tools
Not only put trackers on your tool cases but put one hidden somewhere in the Van. I've had a phone and my handicap parking sticker and other items stolen when I was only in the store for a minute. When you see people in the parking lot just "sitting" in their car, beware, a lot of these
people are thieves just waiting for you to make a mistake.
1- Keep an inventory of all your tools, that means receipts and model numbers, short description, pictures, etc. Long and tedious work that need to be done monthly/quarterly but will save you weeks of back and forth with your insurer.
2- Read your actual insurance contract, lots of legalese in them to make you believe you will be fine while you aren't, go through a insurance broker if needed. Don't be cheap, that couple hundreds a year for a better insurance will be paid multiple time by the number of work days that you won't lose fighting with them to get money to start working again!
3- Unless you live in a shady neighborhood, only then logos will attract the unplanned/on the spot drug addicts needing some easy money from the pawnshop for their next hit. Anyone else that get hit are by thieves that know their shit and find/look up your company and your business registration info to locate you, all based on what kind of tools is the most valuable at the moment. If they bother to steal the car is that the tools are just a bonus for them.
Not sure why but to cover your tools with an insurance the policy is called an "Inland Marine Policy" You have to provide every tool with a serial number etc etc. It's a real PITA to inventory everything. I have been broken into 3 times. It amazes me how they leave expensive tools and take things that aren't even worth reporting. The last time was my fault for forgetting to lock the doors. I'm a locksmith no less. It was my personal vehicle. I had a couple hundred dollars in cash in the console. They left my laptop and $300 worth of flashlights but took the cash, a notebook and a wallet that didn't have any money or ID's that were important. I had tools in the back too and they didn't touch those. I had the guy on 2 cameras but his face wasn't clear.
Yes, document all your stuff! But, if you want it insurance coverage on it you're going to have to talk to your agent and maybe even pay for that coverage in addition to your basic policy! Too many people don't want to let their agent know what they have because they know it's going to increase their bill...but then they expect coverage when something happens (even though they weren't paying for that coverage).