SelectaDNA Protects Over 200,000 Tools as Part of Long-Term Fight Against Tool Theft

SelectaDNA Protects Over 200,000 Tools as Part of Long-Term Fight Against Tool Theft 

Tool theft costs UK tradespeople an estimated £800 million every year - but one company is turning the tide. SelectaDNA has now marked more than 200,000 tools across the country, in a landmark effort to make tool theft a thing of the past. 

Since mid-2024, SelectaDNA has been at the forefront of a national movement to deter thieves, support police investigations, and return stolen tools to their rightful owners. 

Standing alongside tradespeople 

SelectaDNA’s campaign has always been rooted in the people most affected by tool theft - the tradespeople whose livelihoods depend on their tools. From the very beginning, the company has worked closely with those on the front line, listening to their stories, understanding the true impact of theft, and building personal relationships that have helped shape the national response. 

Through ongoing collaboration with respected voices in the trades community - including Shoaib Awan (The Gas Expert), Frankie Williams (Stolen Tools UK), CT1 and On The Tools - SelectaDNA has helped turn frustration into action, uniting thousands of tradespeople behind a shared mission: to make tool theft a crime that no longer pays. 

“When this campaign started, it wasn’t about headlines - it was about real people losing their livelihoods,” said Shoaib Awan, known to thousands as The Gas Expert. “SelectaDNA has been with us from the start - not just amplifying the message, but providing a real, practical solution that protects tradespeople every day.” 

An unmatched national campaign 

In the past 18 months, SelectaDNA has hosted or supported over 40 tool-marking events across the UK - from Sussex to London to Manchester - distributing thousands of marking kits and partnering with police, insurers, and industry bodies to make tool theft prevention a national priority. 

“To my knowledge, no other organisation has delivered this scale of national tool-marking events, police collaboration, and assistance with proactive operations, enforcement and real-world recoveries. SelectaDNA really is setting the benchmark for what meaningful action against tool theft looks like.” - Sgt Dave Catlow, Metropolitan Police. 

Each marked tool is registered to its owner, enabling police to trace stolen equipment during raids and operations. These efforts have already led to successful recoveries, including equipment returned to Openreach after a joint operation with the Metropolitan Police. 

Collaborating for lasting change 

The campaign’s success has been built on collaboration with a broad coalition of partners, including: 

• Police forces: Metropolitan Police, Sussex Police, and others adopting DNA marking as part of their neighbourhood strategies 
• Insurance partners: Aviva, Howden, Kingsbridge, Rhino, and Blip  
• Construction and trade partners: TESTO, On The Tools, Checkatrade, CT1, and Fix Radio 
• Retail and hire partners: Locks4Vans, Jewson, TVL, ITS Powertools, Howdens, B&Q, Sunbelt Rentals, and HAE 

Alongside this network of partners, the campaign’s reach and impact have been amplified through social media, helping to raise awareness, rally tradespeople, and drive momentum that has translated into high-profile events and policy engagement. 

“As a brand built for tradespeople, we know how devastating tool theft can be,” said Jimmy Walsh, CEO of CT1. “Partnering with SelectaDNA and police allows us to take real action - combining innovation, education, and community engagement to protect the people who keep our industry moving.” 

As part of the campaign, SelectaDNA has played a central role in key national moments, including: 

• June 2024: London “go-slow” protest demanding tougher penalties for tool theft (Daily Mail) 
• February 2025: Parliament Square protest covered by The Standard 
• Ongoing parliamentary discussions on the Tool Theft Prevention Bill, backed by MPs Robert Jenrick, Matthew Cox, and Louie French 
• Meeting attended by Kemi Badenoch at Parliament with Balfour Beatty, Openreach, Met Police, Checkatrade 

Real-world results 

SelectaDNA’s partnership with police has already led to tangible recoveries. During car boot sale raids, search dogs trained to detect SelectaDNA helped identify and return stolen tools, including critical assets belonging to Openreach. 

The approach has become a model for proactive crime prevention, with more police forces integrating forensic marking into their local policing strategies. 

A continued commitment 

“Marking 200,000 tools is a major milestone - but it’s only the beginning,” said James Brown, Managing Director at SelectaDNA. “Every marked tool makes it harder for thieves to profit and easier for police to return stolen property and convict criminals. We’re proud to stand with tradespeople and continue driving this movement forward.” 

With more partners joining the campaign and new marking events planned through 2026, SelectaDNA is determined to make tool theft a crime that no longer pays.

Want to run a tool marking event to support your community? Get in touch!