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Tradesmen are having to bolster security on their vehicles after a huge increase in tool thefts.

Criminals are using Tibbe – or skeleton – keys to access vans and steal thousands of pounds worth of tools. Figures seen by 5 live Investigates reveal that while there were just over 13,000 thefts of tools from vehicles in 2014/15, there were well over 21,000 thefts in 2016/17 – a 65 per cent increase.

The recent surge in tool thefts is also down to the development of a tactic known as ‘peel and steal’ which involves thieves using their knees to apply pressure to van doors, before pulling them open from the top 'like tins of sardines'.
Ford UK, whose vans are particularly susceptible to Tibbe keys, said it took security very seriously and had invested heavily in built-in security measures.

This clip is taken from 5 live Investigates on Sunday 30th April