Tool thefts continue to be a growing problem across the region, according to police and Western Bay of Plenty Neighbourhood Support.

Building and construction sites and along with work vehicles - sometimes parked at home - are being targeted.

Tauranga Police Inspector Zane Smith says the thefts create frustration, unnecessary down time, and lead to tradies having to buy new tools or pay insurance excess to replace their tools.

“Police encourage you to mark your tools for identification,” says Zane.

“While some people mark tools to identify your tools on a site when multiple people use the same type of tools, this is often not enough for us to reunite your tools with their rightful owner.

“We ask you to consider marking them with your driver licence number, or construction companies can engrave company names and phone numbers.”

He says a driver licence is unique, routinely carried with you, and can help police identify you as the owner of tools police find.

Tools are often targeted to be sold on or traded at low prices, and it’s often harder for them to be on-sold or traded when it’s clear the seller is not the owner.

“A person who buys property knowing that it’s probably stolen can be arrested for receiving stolen property. Most thieves won't take something that they can’t on-sell or trade. By taking tools that are marked with a unique identifier the thief risks getting caught with the stolen item or no one wanting it," says Zane.

“In my time working in Police there have been many occasions where we have come across property which is clearly stolen but cannot find the rightful owner. It is a frustrating process to go through potentially having to return stolen property to the thief or receiver because we can’t find the rightful owner.

“Tools marked with paint or initials don’t give Police sufficient details to enable us to find the owner.”

He says handy tips and tricks are available online about how to mark tools, including printing a sticker with the details and then tracking over the detail with an engraving tool.

“Securing your tools and engraving them with your driver licence number reduces the chance of them being targeted and dramatically increases the chance of them being recovered and the thief being held accountable.”

Police say construction sites are a popular target at the moment.

Neighbourhood Support Chair Kathy Webb says the group works closely with police in preventing crime, and urges tradies, builders and home tool users to follow Police advice.

April is Prevention Month for Neighbourhood Support New Zealand.

“We know how frustrating it can be to have to replace expensive tools, and to hear that vehicles are being targeted at home is especially worrying. If you’re not already part of Neighbourhood Support, join us at https://www.wbopns.org.nz/joinus," says Kathy.

“It’s free and means you’ll have your neighbours also keeping an eye on what’s going on in your street. We know that there’s less crime in streets where Neighbourhood Support street signs are up and members actively know their neighbours.”