Share your on the job tool theft stories!

[MyChannellockTools]

Let us know about any on the job tool thefts and what if anything you did
about it. Would marking or engraving your tools help to combat this at all?

[Danglerb]

Engraving just means the tools sell for less at the pawn shop. A chain and a piece of wood like a gas station bathroom key might help.

Most thieves don't want to get caught, but inside your place of work what does a tool engraved with your initial in their box mean, except oops I picked it up by mistake or some other excuse. By the time it gets to the pawn shop its ground off.

I'd say don't work in a shop with a thief, keep your tools orderly so anything missing at the end of the day is obvious, and don't loan tools if your worried about it.

[rsanter]

back when I had a shop, we had a break in.
they stole the neighbors trailer backed in into our yard and filled it with stuff
took all the tool boxes and a bunch more

bob

[chammyman]

The day I got the toe I left the shop and my box was unlocked. I went down later to lock it and then got it a few days later.

Well I got 1 box, the supertank had been reclaimed by the owner who had given it to me. Anyway my tools were in a pile on the floor from the supertank.

I got the tools home and theres a few hundred thing smissing, 90% of my snap on gear is missing.

Now normally I would have gone done and beaten them all sensless, but he called the police on me and they came and said to basically stay away or I'm in trouble. As I had no receipts or proof of the toosl that walked I can't do anything. Now 5 years ago I would have gone down and taken everything and probably a few of the cars and trucks but with a baby on the way I could do with my liberty.

Anyway its come back to me through the grapevine that hes been telling everyone that I have stolen tools from him! Specifically a brand new blue point 1/4 inch drive socket set. I knwo for a fact it was the Poles.

I will be sorting that issue out, thats all I'm saying. As ou all know it only takes suspicion not proof to ruin someones reputation.

Only things I 'stole' from him was a broken 1/2 and 1 inch airgun which he chucked in the scrap and doesn't know I took and fixed.

No one ever respects your tools unless they are like you. Most will think nothing of hammering out a bearing race with a 2lb hammer with a snap on screwdriver or pressing bushes/bearing sotu with snap on hrome sockets.

[Frank Elson]

Chammy don't act in haste. Remember revenge is a dish best eaten cold.

[nissan_crawler]

I saw a guy trying to get a tool out of my box behind my back while I was talking to somebody else. He might have been just borrowing, not stealing. Either way, I doubt he'll do it without asking again, after I used my foot to slam his fingers in my drawer.:lol_hitti

Yes, I'm an asshole.

[wrenchr]

I saw a guy trying to get a tool out of my box behind my back while I was talking to somebody else. He might have been just borrowing, not stealing. Either way, I doubt he'll do it without asking again, after I used my foot to slam his fingers in my drawer.:lol_hitti

Yes, I'm an asshole.

Well he learned a very important lesson that day!! Do not go into your box!!

[fotoflojoe]

I saw a guy trying to get a tool out of my box behind my back while I was talking to somebody else. He might have been just borrowing, not stealing. Either way, I doubt he'll do it without asking again, after I used my foot to slam his fingers in my drawer.:lol_hitti

Yes, I'm an asshole.

Wouldn't say that, I would've done the same thing.
Oh wait, I'm an asshole too.

[Pedro-snapon]

... As I had no receipts or proof of the toosl that walked ...

ask your snapon dealer to print your purchase history, that should be proof of what you once had and now is missing

[Fedwrench]

Garages should be like families where you don't steal from each other. I've been real lucky to work at places where the techs stealing from each other was never an issue. However, there was a shop that go broken into. Actually, I think was more a case of the back door was left open. The theives broke into the locked tool boxes hitting the Snap on boxes first. For some unknown reason, they didn't touch my Cornwell box or any of the generic boxes. I guess they thought there wasn't anything of value in it.:lol:
Police reports were filed, nothing was ever recovered, and there were no insurance claims either. Mechanic's tools were considered personal property and not covered by the dealership's insurance policy. That was a hard blow for some techs to take, caused much knashing of teeth, and a few left over it. Good locks and high fences make for good neighbors. Always lock your box when you're gone for the day and you may want to check on your employer's insurance policy.

[ni[x]it]

rsanter;
What ever came of the theft? Police? Did they find them? Or did everyone just have to start over?

Chammyman;
your story is crap. What is a supertank? What does your toe have to do with anything?


Mine;
I was working out in the sheetmetal backshop one day, when an electrical technician came over to ask if he could borrow my die grinder with a rotolock sanding disc on it. He proceded to grind someone elses name and info off a tool as I stood there agast. I asked if it was his tool, and he said "it is now" in very broken english, and walked off.

I asked around and even told his boss about what he did, but all the electrical technicians seem to be thieving bastards, even their boss. Everyone I asked didn't know whos tool it might have been, or if anyone was missing one, but they all had the same negative negative negative comments about the group of electrical technicians (all vietnamese).

[nissan_crawler]

nixit, do you work on aircraft?

[1320stang]

I was going to ask, have any of you replaced your Snap On placards with Stack On ones? Pop off the good ones and put the replacements on with double stick tape....

[ZRX61]

Was walking home from a pub one night (Brixton, London) & passed a couple of guys I knew wheeling a cart loaded with several toolboxes along the street.

I reconised the toolboxes so I went & alerted a couple of the owners who made a few more calls & then we turned up at the perps house armed with baseball bats, m/c fork stanchions etc & handled the situation.

[wilbilt]

The most significant theft of tools I have experienced was perpetrated by a shop owner that had just canned me (much like chammyman's experience). When I realized there were tools missing some days later, he of course denied it.

Once, when I had received a jury notice, he bragged to me that he had lived in this county his entire life and had not once been called for jury duty. He claimed he had "connections" and was a "good ole boy" so he would never be sent a notice.

The next time I served after our separation, I noticed a form in the jury room to be filled out by those who would like to request being summoned for jury duty. I dutifully filled it out in his name and provided his address. In the "comments" area I wrote: "I have lived in this county my entire life and have never once been summoned for jury duty. I would very much like to experience it."

I sure hope he enjoyed it.

Years earlier, at another shop, I was talking to another tech when I heard one of my toolbox drawers opening. I turned around and some fat slob was rummaging in my pliers drawer. I said "can I help you find something?"

He told me he was looking for some Vice-Grips. I told him that it was my box he was going through, and that I don't loan tools. He replied "Bob (the shop owner) said it was OK. I'm just going to use them for a few minutes."

Knowing that Bob would not have told him to look in my box, I told him that the box he wanted was across the shop and pointed toward the "shop box" full of crap tools. He said "I already looked in there, I couldn't find any."

He had opened another drawer and was reaching for some Vice-Grips. I said, "You know, people have died for less."

He mumbled something, closed the drawer and shuffled away.

[64merc]

Well, I've never had any tools stolen at work, but I have had some stolen from my car. I used to carry an old box filled with my very first tools, that were given to me by my uncle. They weren't fancy or anything (Walmart's PM brand), but they meant something to me. Anyway, one morning I saw a hole in the driver's side window. They didn't touch anything inside the car, and it appears that they went straight for the trunk release. Someone obviously knew what they were looking for since they didn't touch my wife's car.

The funny thing is that there were no other burglaries on my street before or after this happened. This was a few years ago but we still keep our cars behind locked gates now at night (no garage). I also added a flood light above our cars for good measure.

I didn't have any of the tools engraved but I doubt this would have helped. The cops didn't even come out. They just took a report over the phone.

[Fast Orange]

At the shop I worked at,there was a core group of us that had worked together for a few years-we trusted each other and left our boxes open so that we could use each other's tools if we had to.The owner brought in a new guy,and tools started disappearing.The new guy wasn't any too bright-after a couple of "talks" with him about the problem,without him being cured of his sticky fingers,we decided enough was enough.After another "conversation" with us that involved "realignining" the fingers on his left hand with a ball-peen,and an offer to do the same for his right hand,he saw the error of his ways and returned the tools he had stolen-along with some other stuff that none of us recognized.He never even came back for his own toolbox.

[davestlouis]

I have never lost tools to thieves at work but have to lock up everything I care about at home because my 14 year old son is autistic and takes everything that's not nailed down. I have to lock my wallet and car keys in the gunsafe at night, along with my pocket change, to keep him out of it. My wife keeps the pop-tarts for the other kids' breakfasts locked in her Jeep so he doesn't sneak down and eat them in the middle of the night...fun and games at my house!

[wilbilt]

I have never lost tools to thieves at work but have to lock up everything I care about at home because my 14 year old son is autistic and takes everything that's not nailed down. I have to lock my wallet and car keys in the gunsafe at night, along with my pocket change, to keep him out of it. My wife keeps the pop-tarts for the other kids' breakfasts locked in her Jeep so he doesn't sneak down and eat them in the middle of the night...fun and games at my house!

Been there, done that. Now he's 21 and co-signing loans for his friends, even though he doesn't have a job. The collection notices come to my address.

Locking up the groceries was just the tip of the iceberg.

[rsanter]

I lost over $100,000 in tools that day and was underinsured so I only got a part of that replaced.
police were not much help. I do not think they were activly looking for anyone. they called me a couple of times to look at stuff when they busted people but none was mine

bob

[Thumper]

We had one asshat lube guy that would sneak our wrenches when we on a road test or at lunch. I saw him once and gave him a warning to buy his own stuff. This didn't stop him so I hooked up some jumper wires to my toolbox from the spark plug tester and flipped it "on" while I was away at lunch. 10 minutes later we heard him hollering and went to see what happened. We stood and watched that slimball do the "happy dance" while pissing all over himself. :shocking: Piece of shit never took another tool after that episode.

[Brad54]

When I was 16, I worked in a body shop sweeping the floors and stuff. The paint and body was in the front building, mechanical stuff in the rear building, and a third building was used for storage. Someone broke in one night and stole a bunch of stuff, including the tool box from the mechanic in the back. Cops were sure either I did it or the other sweep-up kid (named Tony...Tony was so bright he had a tattoo of his name on his arm so he wouldn't forget it). Problem was, the lock to the front gate wasn't broken off, and the foot print on the floor under the window didn't match either of ours.
The cops gave me the all clear, and I was assured by the bosses that I'd have a job after I got back from a vacation in a week. Got back, and was told I was fired to set an example to the guys working in the shop.

Three months later, the principle partner--a full-time fireman--was busted for setting fire to his home and car to claim insurance money, and burglarizing another place. He did time for it. The universe levels itself out.

-Brad

[Vinko]

We had one asshat lube guy that would sneak our wrenches when we on a road test or at lunch. I saw him once and gave him a warning to buy his own stuff. This didn't stop him so I hooked up some jumper wires to my toolbox from the spark plug tester and flipped it "on" while I was away at lunch. 10 minutes later we heard him hollering and went to see what happened. We stood and watched that slimball do the "happy dance" while pissing all over himself. :shocking: Piece of shit never took another tool after that episode.

I like that one!:thumbup:


I knew a guy in Detroit -- his shop got robbed twice. Through a skylight once and the front door the second time. So, he criss-crossed the entire shop area underneath the skylight and both doors with fishing wire and tons of hooks. Spray-painted them flat black and had a mean, nasty dog in there. A certain son-of-a-bitch broken in and left a lot of his flesh on those hooks.

[jesselyons2002]

I had my tools stole from school after a week and a half going there. I just bought the tools and they were my first tools. Piss me and my dad off.

[chammyman]

Frank, I'm scottish so we know our revenge well and as for cold, even farmfoods will seem hot, compared to what happens to him.

Pedro, most of my toosl were used, those that weren't are VAT free so theres no recipts for them

ni[x]it a supertank is this, mine was the red ferrari one though. Getting the toe means being let go.

http://www.ttcuk.com/ekmps/shops/tomstoolchest/images/c28t.jpg

The insurance issue is a real problem. Most busines insurances won't cover it. You cannot get cover unless your PAYE over here. So basically unless your self employed your box and tools can not be covered.

[wilbilt]

A shop owner told us that our tools were not covered under the shop policy for loss. He said that our homeowner's insurance would cover them.

I checked with my insurance company, and they said they would only cover them if they were on my property at the time of loss or in my personal vehicle. I told the boss I would take my box home, throw some tools in a road box in the back of my Land Cruiser and work out of that.

Most of the other guys didn't own homes or have insurance and were up in arms, as we were all required to supply our own tools as part of our employment. The owner finally caved and had us all write up an inventory of our tools along with replacement cost.

He said he was going to add them to the shop policy, but looking back, I'll bet he never did.

[chammyman]

I will GUARENTEE he never did.

Its a joke. I mean are these people thick? Do they not realise a happy, secure worker will work better in all areas, less time off, higher work output etc etc

Its simple really, being a good boss isn't hard but they want instant money they can see rather than merely an assumption (even if its true) of more money later

[caper]

We had one asshat lube guy that would sneak our wrenches when we on a road test or at lunch. I saw him once and gave him a warning to buy his own stuff. This didn't stop him so I hooked up some jumper wires to my toolbox from the spark plug tester and flipped it "on" while I was away at lunch. 10 minutes later we heard him hollering and went to see what happened. We stood and watched that slimball do the "happy dance" while pissing all over himself. :shocking: Piece of shit never took another tool after that episode.

My step father was a crysler tech in the 70's and he had a guy who used to go in the box when they were out of the shop so he did something similar-hosed out his bay so the floor was wet and hooked a 110v extension cord to the box.When he came back the foreman was replacing the blown fuse and the guy was gone to the hospital.

[goodfellow]

It sure is frustrating to hear all your stories. What's surprising to me is that many of the employers didn't give a hoot, or even took advantage of the situation -- that's outrageous.

I've been the victim of tool theft several times. The first was when as a young mechanic I worked for a crusty old German who owned an independent European repair shop. One night we, and several other shops in the small industrial park were hit hard by professional thieves.

They bypassed the alarm systems, opened door and toolbox locks with picks and took only high $$$ stuff. Nothing was ever damaged or vandalized -- but they cleaned us out. My $15K MAC tools were gone, as were all the other mechanic's tools -- including the massive specialized tool collection of the old German master mechanic (he lost tens of thousands of dollars in German and Italian factory tools)

Even though his own loss was substantial, within a week he called all of our tool truck vendors to come in one evening and purchased every one of us a basic toolkit so we could continue to do our work. He used a personal bank loan to do this -- The tools weren't free, we were expected to repay the boss over time, but he ate the interest, and as some of the insurance money trickled in he credited our loans.

After insurance payments and tax deductions I still lost about $5K, but that guy was top notch and it was a pleasure to work for him -- he took care of his employees.

It's disappointing to see the worst in people when there is a crisis. I'm sorry many of you guys were taken advantage of by your former employers.