NEW DATA: More than 9 in 10 tool thefts in London unsolved in last 5 years

Data released under an Freedom of Information request by Luke Taylor MP to the Metropolitan Police shows that there have been a remarkable 57,148 cases of tool theft in the capital since 2019, and shockingly, 53,351 were closed without a suspect being identified.

The number of cases of tool theft that resulted in a suspect being charged was just 347 - less than 1% of the total number of cases.

It comes as MPs meet in Parliament today at a reception for the Stop Tool Theft campaign.

Commenting on the figures, Luke Taylor MP, Lib Dem MP for Sutton and Cheam and Frontbench Spokesperson for London, said:

“What a joke. These numbers highlight just how underresourced the Met are and how badly tradespeople are being let down.

“Tradespeople up and down London tell me they are regularly forking out thousands of pounds because they have no faith that once their tools are stolen, they will ever see them again.

“We have got to get a grip on this - we are allowing this kind of crime to threaten the livelihoods of so many people.

“Something has to change - the Government and the Mayor need to get the Met the resources they need to investigate all crimes properly, and we need to look at tougher clampdowns on the sale of second-hand tools as well”.