Moment brazen thief steals family man's van and tools in £11,000 heist as new campaign is launched to battle growing tool theft crisis

By FRANCINE WOLFISZ, NEWS REPORTER Published: 11:50, 15 June 2026 | Updated: 11:50, 15 June 2026 This is the moment thieves brazenly used a cloned key to get into a landscaper's van parked outside his home before fleeing with the vehicle and every tool inside - as a new campaign aims to highlight Britain's growing tool theft crisis.  Jamie Gilhooley, 38, from East Lothian, said he was left with 'absolutely nothing' after the heist, which amounted to an £11,000 financial loss for the trader. Among the tools taken were more 'sentimental' tools he had started out with more than 20 years ago as an apprentice lead worker, as well as equipment he had invested in for his landscaping business over the last nine years. But after his van was taken, the family man believed 'that's me finished now' when he discovered his insurance would not cover his total loss.  He said not enough attention is given to the emotional and mental health impact on traders who like him have fallen victim to tool theft across the country. According to new research by home improvement retailer Wickes, over a third (38 per cent) of UK tradespeople have had tools stolen, with the average value of goods totalling more than £2,500 per individual. The study also showed that the vast majority (77 per cent) of tradesmen are forced to replace stolen tools from their own savings. However the repercussions are not just financial.  Over one in five (21 per cent) tradespeople affected suffer from ongoing stress and anxiety, with some left unable to work (12 per cent) and others considering leaving the industry altogether (7 per cent). Family man and landscaper Jamie Gilhooley, 38, pictured with one of his daughters, said he was left with 'absolutely nothing' after his van and tools were stolen  The father-of-two recalled the moment he realised his van had been stolen in February this year during a theft that was captured on CCTV.  He told Daily Mail: 'I didn't actually realise until the morning when I walked out my house with my coffee - and I turned to my wife and said where's my van?  'I looked down the street, thinking maybe I'd parked it somewhere, but it was a massive, white high-top Ford transit. Right away, I just had that feeling in my stomach, I knew it was gone. 'Looking back at the cameras, it was very professional. The thief seemed to have a key, which he put in the door. Within three seconds he was in the van, nice and quiet, and shut the door behind him.' Mr Gilhooley called the police, but they only took a statement over the phone. He claims they did not turn up to his home to take a further statement until five weeks later, by which time all trace of the van was gone. The trader had relentlessly searched for his vehicle 'non-stop' for the first four days after the theft, and after enquiring at businesses and petrol stations in the area discovered CCTV showing the van going in the direction of Edinburgh. 'But that was the last I saw of it,' he said.  Two weeks ago he was informed by police the case had now been closed as there were no further leads. He added: 'I knew the van was insured, but there was no way of me recovering all my tools that I'd built up over nine years. 'I'm a sole trader, I'm just on my own. I'm not a big fancy landscaping company. It's just me, my van, and my tools. 'I also had sentimental tools in there that I'll never see again, that can't be replaced, from by time as a lead specialist. 'There were tools I started with. To anyone else they're no good, but to me they meant something. They were probably just tossed in a field somewhere.' Following the theft, Mr Gilhooley said he lost weight and stopped sleeping from the anguish of losing everything he needed to keep his business going.  But a local mental health support group he belonged to and his local community rallied around to help him raise more than £2,400 towards the cost of a new van. 'They didn't want me to give up,' he said. 'If it wasn't for them I wouldn't have been able to get back on my feet. 'I don't think enough people realise the damage it does. People just see a van or some tools and think the insurance will cover it, but that's not always the case. 'Now I have a lock on everything, including my pedals and steering wheel. I've got to hope for the best no one ever tries to do it again, but I can't guarantee that.' Wickes has commissioned a striking 2.4m tall sculpture sculpture named 'Anguish' to represent the impact tool theft has on traders. Created by renowned recycling artist Ptolemy Elrington, the 'jagged form' is built from reclaimed power tools and spanners Dave, a 46-year-old decorator from Liverpool, has also fallen victim to tool theft.  He revealed how it took just three minutes for his ladders to be shamelessly taken from the top of his van as he worked at a hotel in the Wirral, one weekend last August. The trader said the financial loss was minimal - at around £300 - but it had a 'detrimental' impact on his workload and caused anxiety and stress. Dave, who has been working for more than 15 years in the trade, said: 'I've known of others who have had to close their businesses down completely when something like this had happened. 'One of my friends is an electrician and his van got completely robbed. They literally took everything out overnight, around £12,500 worth of equipment.  'He just couldn't afford to replace it, and his insurance wouldn't cover it, so his business actually folded. 'Since my ladders were taken, it put me in a position where I don't use a van anymore. It has put me off completely ever buying a van ever again. 'We work hard for what we do, and we pay a lot for our tools. Unfortunately, these thieves don't take into account who they're taking things from.  'It can ruin somebody's business and disrupt their life completely.' He and Mr Gilhooley shared their experiences as Wickes has this week launched a new campaign aimed at highlighting the impact of tool theft on Britain's traders.  The retailer has commissioned a striking 2.4m tall sculpture sculpture named 'Anguish', which will be touring stores around the country. Created by renowned recycling artist Ptolemy Elrington over more than 400 hours, the 'jagged form' is built from reclaimed power tools and spanners, with power tools deliberately dominating the structure as the most commonly stolen items - and serves as a physical representation of the growing crisis.  David Wood, CEO of Wickes, said: 'Tool theft is a devastating issue, and we hear first-hand about its real impact. The statistics speak for themselves, but this is about more than just numbers; it affects people's livelihoods, confidence, and emotional wellbeing. That's why it's crucial we take action.  'Wickes are standing side by side with the trade to help tackle tool theft by raising awareness and marking over 260,000 tools for free in 2026 through nationwide Theft Prevention Community events in partnership with DeterTech, using specialist technology.  'Our partnership with CALM also ensures support is available for those affected by the emotional impact of tool theft.'  Simon Gunning, CEO of Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) and Wickes' charity partner, said: 'The fallout from tool theft is often underestimated. Beyond the immediate financial hit, tradespeople face uncertainty, anxiety, and feelings of vulnerability.  'CALM is proud to partner with Wickes to bring this crucial aspect of the issue to the forefront and encourage tradespeople to talk about their struggles, whilst feeling supported.'  According to recent research by Direct Line, last year saw 26,724 reports of tool theft across the UK, the equivalent of a theft every 20 minutes. Remove tools from the vehicle overnight Take tools out of the van when parked overnight and store them in a secure location Park the vehicle in busy, well-lit areas  Whenever possible, park in a busy, well-lit location with CCTV coverage. For added security, park with the rear or side doors against a wall or another vehicle to make access more difficult for thieves. If possible, park in a garage Ensure the vehicle is securely locked, no matter how briefly you leave it. Don't make it easy for opportunistic thieves. Consider installing additional alarms, immobilisers, deadlocks, slam locks, drill plates, and steering wheel locks for extra layers of defence. A GPS tracking device can significantly improve the chances of recovering the van and its contents if stolen. Marking all tools with a unique identifier (such as SmartWater or SelectaDNA) makes it easier for police to trace them back to their owner if they are stolen and later recovered. It also provides crucial evidence to help prosecute offenders. Keep a detailed record of all tools, including the make, serial number, and photographs. This will help support insurance claims and assist police investigations. You may also want to register these on Immobilise, the UK's official National Property Register. Place theft warning stickers on your vehicle's doors and windows Warn potential thieves about the anti-theft security to deter them. Ensure the van and tools are properly insured. The right insurance can help cover the cost of replacing stolen tools or vehicle damage, helping traders get back to work quickly with minimal disruption. No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. 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