The number of tool thefts from 2022 to 2024

7 May 2025

Our Ref: FOI2025/02970                                                 

REQUEST UNDER THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000 Ref No: FOI2025/02970     

I write in connection with your request for information received on 4 April 2025.  I note you seek access to the following information:

Request

I am submitting a request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 regarding the investigation and case outcomes of reported tool theft incidents within your police force’s jurisdiction.

I would be grateful if you could provide the following information for each of the past three calendar years: 2022, 2023, and 2024.

Please respond to the questions as listed below:

1. Total Number of Tool Theft Cases

How many reports of tool theft have been recorded annually in your jurisdiction?

Of these, how many involved thefts from vehicles, homes, and commercial premises?

2. Investigation & Case Closure Rates

What is the average length of time spent investigating each reported tool theft case before it is closed?

How many tool theft cases were closed within the following timeframes:

• 24 hours
• 48 hours
• One week
• One month

How many cases remain open beyond one month?

3. Arrests, Charges, and Convictions

• How many tool theft cases resulted in an arrest each year?
• How many led to formal charges?
• How many resulted in a conviction?

4. Recovery of Stolen Tools

• How many cases resulted in the recovery of stolen tools?
• What percentage of recovered tools were returned to their original owners?

5. Police Resources & Prioritisation

• How many officers (FTE) are assigned to investigate tool theft cases?
• Are tool theft cases given a specific priority level compared to other property crimes?

Response

I am required by the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (The Act) to handle all requests in a manner that is blind to the identity of the requestor. Any information released in response to a request is regarded as being published and therefore, in the public domain without caveat.

Following enquiries within the Hertfordshire Constabulary please see our response below.

Date - 01/01/22 - 31/12/24                         

Please Note - While we have provided data held by our organisation, the quality and completeness of this data may be affected by the way it has been recorded or maintained. In some cases, data may be incomplete, inaccurately recorded, or not consistently linked across systems. While this data is generally available and sufficient for day-to-day operational use it is not always stored in a format that allows for easy or large-scale extraction. As such, compiling it for the purpose of this request may require significant manual effort, with a likelihood that this would exceed the 18-hour time limit set under the Freedom of Information Act.

Total Number of Tool Theft Crimes

Tool Theft Crimes - Breakdown of Location

Tool Theft Crimes - Premises Type and Theft from a Motor Vehicle Breakdown

Investigations & Crime Closure Days

Tool Theft Crimes – Arrests

Tool Theft Crimes - Outcomes 1/1a Charged/Summonsed

There are no officers assigned specifically to deal with Tool theft.

The numerical data presented in this response is an un-audited snapshot of un-published data sourced from "live" systems and is subject to the interpretation of the original request by the individual extracting the data.

Should you have any further enquiries concerning this matter please do not hesitate to contact me quoting the above reference number.

Yours sincerely
Information Rights

Hertfordshire Constabulary provides you the right to request an independent review of this response under its review procedure. If you require such a review, you must notify us within two months from the date of this letter. After lodging a complaint with Hertfordshire Constabulary if you are still dissatisfied with the decision, you may make an application to the Information Commissioner. For information on how to make a complaint please visit their website or contact them on 0303 123 1113.