Image Credit: ADOBE STOCK
November 05, 2018 - 2:00 PM
VERNON - RCMP in the North Okanagan are reminding everyone to secure their property after reporting a significant increase in tool theft.
Police have seen more reports of tools being stolen in Vernon and the North Okanagan over a three to four month period, an RCMP media release says.
"A trend police are seeing are tools being taken from vehicles and from job sites, where tools have been left insecure or visible overnight," Vernon RCMP spokesperson Const. Kelly Brett says in the release. "When tools are stolen, it often affects the livelihood of some and can cause significant financial strain on the trades, which is why we want to ensure that everyone is taking the proper measures to properly secure and identify their tools."
RCMP recommend seven tips on how to curb tool theft, starting with how to secure and identify your tools:
Keep an eye on your tools
It’s not easy to watch over your tools every second of the day, however if you know you will be leaving a room or area for more than a few minutes try and secure or put your tools away.
Put your name on your tools
Put your name or an identifying mark on your tools by engraving it, making it harder for thieves to mask or resell. Engrave deep into the tool to avoid sanding the name or markings off and do so in multiple locations on the tool.
Lock up your tools when you leave for the night
It is best to take your tools home with you each night, however not always practical. Do not leave the tools in your vehicle. Use a job box for your small power tools. Be sure to secure your job box so it cannot be easily loaded into the back of a truck. Chain up your bigger tools like table saws and miter saws.
Use technology to your advantage
Add an alarm system to your job box or a siren alarm padlock to your larger tools. Small GPS trackers can easily be hidden in a job box or attached to a larger tool.
Write down the serial numbers for all your tools
By recording the serial numbers on your tools, this allows police to add it to a National data bank so when a tool is pawned or recovered, police are able to track down the rightful owners.
Secure your trailer or storage unit with heavy duty locks
The RCMP are also seeing an increase in the amount of thefts from locked utility trailers and storage containers, where tools are the main target. Police say a good theft deterrent is placing the unit where it is not visible or easily accessible.
And a reminder…
Don’t buy stolen tools
Stop the cycle. Police says to be cautious of sellers who price their items very low, If someone is selling tools at a very low price, the chances are they are stolen. Check to see if the tools have names or markings on them. Police recommend to not buy tools out of the back of a truck or from someone you don’t know.
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