Police urge tradies to secure tools at Carseldine Home Maker Centre

Police are urging tradies to secure their tools after more than 25,000 were stolen across Queensland in the 2024-25 financial year.

The North Brisbane Crime Prevention Team and the Mobile Police Beat attended the Carseldine Home Maker Centre on Friday to speak with tradies at the monthly tradies breakfast. Queensland Police Service regularly visits hardware and tool specialist stores to talk to tradies, contractors and tool owners about keeping their gear safe from opportunistic thieves.

The most regularly stolen items are hand tools, household power tools, trade equipment and commercial power tools. Police say the impact goes beyond replacement cost, with stolen tools meaning lost wages, delayed jobs and added pressure on small business owners and contractors.

Police encouraged tool owners to record serial numbers and engrave or mark their tools with identifying details, which helps detectives return recovered tools to their owners.

Other prevention advice includes:

• Keep tools out of sight and behind locked doors. If storing them in a vehicle, use a fixed, locked toolbox with visible locks.
• Record the make and model of tools and take photos for identification.
• Lock work vehicles and secure all windows, including sunroofs. Park vehicles and trailers off the street in well-lit areas or places covered by CCTV.
• Consider an audible anti-theft alarm for storage compartments, toolboxes and trailers, CCTV where tools are stored, and hidden trackers in high-value items.
• Watch for suspicious behaviour, such as people loitering around construction sites or vehicles, and report it.

Anyone whose tools have been stolen should report it to police immediately through the stolen property form on the Queensland Police website, or contact Policelink on 131 444. Police noted that social media is not an official platform for reporting crime.

Tool owners can request a 'Tools Secure' sticker for their toolboxes by emailing the Gateway Crime Prevention Unit.

Anyone with information can contact Policelink 24 hours a day via the online suspicious activity form on the Policelink website, or report anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online.