THIEVES who nick tradesmen’s tools should face harsher penalties, a Tory MP says. 

Matt Vickers said the scourge of equipment theft has reached “crisis levels”.

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He is putting forward amendments to strengthen Labour’s Crime and Policing Bill.

It includes counting tool theft as an aggravating factor. This means stricter sentences for criminals who rob tradesmen.

He is also calling for fines to reflect the cost of replacing stolen goods, repairing damage and compensating victims for lost income.

Trading Standards would have to introduce enforcement plans to clamp down on sales at car boots and market stalls. 

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The shadow policing minister told the Sun on Sunday: “This crime is through the roof. This has a real harm on peoples' lives. 

“Tradesmen know the heartache for them and their families when they can’t go to work.

“Then they go down to a car boot sale and see someone in broad daylight selling vast quantities of tools.”

Mr Vickers also revealed his dad and brother - who are both builders - have been targeted.

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He said figures show self-employed tradespeople are 38 per cent more likely than employed counterparts to fall victim to this type of crime.

And only one per cent of stolen tools are ever recovered.

Meanwhile, victims face an average cost of £2,730 to replace stolen tools, £1,320 in vehicle or property repairs, and £1,900 in lost work and business disruption.

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