Tool theft

[woodentop]

Does any one know if it is worth informing festool of the serial numbers of stolen kit, I've just been cleaned out AGAIN !! [mad]
TS55, 300, 65, 1010, dom & assorter, RO 150, RO 90, hoover kit, parts for 1080 in syst( not table), centrotec and c12, all of them with all the acc' you could need. It seems that the economic climate is brining even more scum out from under every rock to try and steal tools in order to convert into god knows what. Is this just a problem here (uk) or is it a problem for all owners having to bolt everything down in order to keep it for more than a month ?? I have read a prev post on this subject and was surprised at the responses it generated, I would have thought that a register for law abiding citizens to check the status of prospective purchases would be useful if not essential or am I being old fashioned in thinking that anyone would bother these days ? Even as a measure to narrow the prospective outlets available to the scum bags that steal a mans tools ?? i am new to this forum but get the felling that everybody on here loves their tools as do I, being a contractor, these tools also earn my living and feed my kids and I for one would like to start doing something to try and stem what; here at least, is a serious and persistent problem.       

 

[peter halle]

Sorry to hear about your situation.  [eek]. If I were in your shoes, I would notify Festool UK about the theft and the serial numbers, just in case.  Thieves are oppotunists and will strike accordingly.  I hope that you had them insured.

Peter

 

[Administrator_JSVN]

Not sure about what, if any, help Festool UK can provide. Like Peter, I would advise you to get in touch with them.  Maybe one of our UK members can offer some insight....

phone: 0044 (0) 1284 760791
fax: 0044 (0) 1284 702156
info@festool.co.uk

http://www.festool.co.uk

Sorry to hear about your situation, what a shame.  [mad]

 

[woodentop]

Thanks peter I will do that, what do you think about a register ? I would certainly be willing to put some time into colation of a register of some sort that could be use by the community to check out goods for sale ?

 

[peter halle]

Thanks peter I will do that, what do you think about a register ? I would certainly be willing to put some time into colation of a register of some sort that could be use by the community to check out goods for sale ?

You might be asking for a whole lot of work  [eek].  This forum is international and has over 8500 members.  Perhaps you should send a personal message to Shane Holland and propose what you are interested in doing to help Foggers around the world.  I am not kicking you off to someone else as a means to discourage you, but  rather to help you minimize the steps to getting information or an answer.

Peter

 

[Ken Nagrod]

Woodentop,

I'd be for that if it's realistic in Festool's eyes.  What's going on that you got hit twice?  Will you give us details?  Maybe members can recommend some preventive or security measures for you.

 

[Administrator_JSVN]

This has been discussed before, a registry of stolen tools.  I have a lot of ideas for such a registry but have not had the time to work on such a project.  I hadn't considered making it something that would be set up for international use but it's certainly something to consider.  I welcome any ideas that members have but I can't make any guarantees on when I would be able to work on putting such a website together.

 

[woodentop]

Woodentop,

I'd be for that if it's realistic in Festool's eyes.  What's going on that you got hit twice?  Will you give us details?  Maybe members can recommend some preventive or security measures for you.

hi Ken, thanks yr reply, as I said I'm a contractor and at present live on the south coast (sunny Bournemouth  [huh])but moved here from London where I ran a building/joinery company, to cut a long st short I still from time to time work up in London on projects
The first time was on a job site in Bayswater (which is a very up market area of central london)where the basement was broken into overnight, and the second was from the vehicle (rear door lock ripped off)outside the job site (again in a nice area on a private road) while we were in the process of loading it, hence why they missed a 1400, 700, 15, 5 rails in a bag, the 1080 table and the general tools that were yet to be put on the vehicle, they did however grab my laptop with all the info of upcoming and past contracts. this was at 1.15 in the afternoon in broad daylight and the vehicle was left for Literally ten minutes, we are pretty sure we were watched and hit by pro's but who knows ? Any comments welcome but security is pretty
sound and we will upgrade again if pos to do.
Paul. 

 

[Ken Nagrod]

Paul, it does sound like pros hit you, at least this last occurance.  I make it a point never to leave my tools at a jobsite for security reasons and just in case I needed them for something else before I'd get back to the job.  If I were to leave anything, it would be locked up in one or more jobsite security boxes like the ones Knaack makes and find a way to cable lock them to stuff to make it a huge hassle to get the stuff.  For your vehicle I'd recommend security locks on the doors leading to your tool storage.  A locksmith should be able to handle that and maybe GPS tracking for your vehicle should that get stolen.  Anything you can do to slow them down and create such a hassle to get at your stuff that they decide to move on to another target or it just slows them up till they're caught in the act.

 

[woodentop]

Thanks Ken, noted on all counts, but they wern't left on the job because I was staying on site and they were indeed locked away, don't know if you guys suffer it there, but it's becoming a real problem here the police told me there were 35 similar incidents just in that day. Don't know or really care if legal but I've got an idea involving taser or cattle prod and my metal tool cabinet ??? Think you can guess where I'm going with this aye, $&@? Em that's what I say, they deserve much worse !! 

 

[Ken Nagrod]

Paul, we think alike!!  [big grin] [wink]  Even though it's a pain in the butt for me, anytime I'm loading or unloading, I go through the full lock up between trips.  You might also want to look into big hungry dogs, large hungry wild cats.  Don't know what you can get away with.  [eek]

 

[woodentop]

I have a 55kilo American bulldog called "Molly" (don't know how to attach a pic) think she should become my new transportation manager and theft consultant !
Cheers signing off.

 

[harry_]

These are popular with tradesmen around here. When installed properly, severe vehicle damage is required to defeat the lock. (actually you are not defeating the lock, but literally tearing it off of the vehicle.)

It is a 'permanent' installation.

Sorry for your loss. Hope the info helps!

 

[ajones]

I am sorry to hear about your tool losses. I had ALL  my tools stolen in the 90's recession...it hurts but the sad truth is  No one gives a monkeys you're on your own.

no point in telling festool UK there is no system in place for checking tools. they will be on ebay shortly.

I do think that Shane is on the right track with a register although I imagine this could be difficult to get up and running..

the thing is that most tools are reliable and do not need servicing or repair so it could be many years before a tool turns up for repair,if at all. by which time its generally outdated and fairly worthless and the cost of repair outstrips the value of the tool.again reducing the chances of it turning up for repair..

 

[jonny round boy]

Woodentop,

That stinks.

You should e-mail or write to Festool UK with the full details - I doubt they have a system for dealing with the info, but if you send it anyway there's a very slim chance they may do something useful with it.

You should also consider posting the info here. It's a very long shot, but someone may find them one day. I'd definitely check eBay UK regularly over the coming weeks/months too.

When I was self-employed, I had a list of all my tools with serial numbers; it just dawned on me that it isn't up-to-date, as I've bought quite a lot since. I need to do that soon....

 

[nickao]

I worked in an area so bad I had to hire a local guy from the neighborhood to sit in the van 8 hours a day to protect the tools that were not going into the site. I got laughed at from the subs until two of them were ripped off while they were in the building working. My guy just watched the thief's pop the lock and take the tools, nothing he could do.

 

[Deansocial]

These are popular with tradesmen around here. When installed properly, severe vehicle damage is required to defeat the lock. (actually you are not defeating the lock, but literally tearing it off of the vehicle.)

It is a 'permanent' installation.

Sorry for your loss. Hope the info helps!

seen plenty of those locks on vans but they only bolt to the tinso can be ripped out, armour plates are muchbetter

 

[Roseland]

I'd also recommend:  http://www.selectamark.co.uk/product_selectamark.html

If you put "Stolen from Woodentop" or whatever on each piece it makes it harder to fence.

I don't have any connection with the company, other than as a former customer.

Andrew

 

[jmbfestool]

I am sorry to hear about your tool losses. I had ALL  my tools stolen in the 90's recession...it hurts but the sad truth is  No one gives a monkeys you're on your own.

no point in telling festool UK there is no system in place for checking tools. they will be on ebay shortly.

I do think that Shane is on the right track with a register although I imagine this could be difficult to get up and running..

the thing is that most tools are reliable and do not need servicing or repair so it could be many years before a tool turns up for repair,if at all. by which time its generally outdated and fairly worthless and the cost of repair outstrips the value of the tool.again reducing the chances of it turning up for repair..

I must agree!

We was on a job looked like a bad place so we unloaded ALL tools from the van on the job inside so we could see them  every day.The problem was we had to park far away from the job as their was no parking

  Well one day we went out in our lunch time  [wink] TV shopping my mate wanted a flat screen TV so he bought the TV which came with a DVD player!Next day he brought the empty boxes back with him to get rid off in the skip  well we made out they where full so me and him carried the TV together and I placed the empty DVD box on the floor because ''I couldnt carry both at the same time''  we filled the DVD box up with some rubble to make if feel like it had something in. Any way as we carried this ''TV'' in together! We where parked on the road for unloading only lines! So we was next to the entrance door! We walked in went into the room placed the box down went back out side and the DVD box was gone!  We couldn't believe how quick it was gone!! It was like some one was watching us all the all the time! Scary! I was glad I stood by the van as we unloaded every day! I thought at times it be okay ill help unload at the same time so its quicker.

The problem was we had to park far away from the job as their was no parking

JMB

 

[mattfc]

For a quick solution to the theft list, how about just putting up a simple spreadsheet on google docs, with a sticky on the forum. We just need somethign like tool, s/n, country and a contact e-mail

Any thoughts Shane?