Recently got a great deal on some second hand tools? Could you potentially be buying stolen goods?

As a force we are proactively tackling this crime through patrols in hotspot areas such as car parks and building sites and we will continue to release crime prevention advice.

As part of our work to prevent these thefts from happening, we have been holding tool marking events across Surrey, where we encourage residents to come along and get their tools marked. We would also recommend logging your details with the tool manufacturer and utilising the manufacturers security features. Moving forward, we will continue to plan tool marking events, so keep an eye on our social media for events in the future. If you see tools being stolen, please continue to report either through us or via Crimestoppers.

We know that tool theft is still happening in our county, so we recommend having a read of the following advice to see what you can do to make sure you’re not buying stolen tools. 

• Make sure you are buying tools from a reputable seller
• Collect tools from a house and see whether there are any initials or postcodes engraved in the tool that matches the seller’s details
• When buying any tools, take a photograph of them and any serial numbers
• Engrave all tools with your postcode and door number
• Mark your tools forensically with SelectaDNA or DataTag and register them for free with www.immobilise.com to increase the chances of getting them back if they are stolen

If you think you may have purchased stolen goods, please contact us or take them to your local police station. Do not contact the seller yourself or keep the item as you may be considered as illegally handing stolen goods.

We are continuing to investigate after the theft of a large amount of tools from Stihl GB in Oak Close, Camberley, on Saturday, 2 December. Officers are carrying out enquiries and we’re asking the public to keep an eye out for any of the stolen tools listed below. These are all Stihl branded tools and may be being sold whole or in parts.

• MS201TCM
• HT135
• MS500I
• MS500IW
• HL 94 C-E
• MS 391 3/8" Powerhead
• MS 661 Chainsaw Powerhead
• MS 400 C-M 3/8" Powerhead
• MS 362 C-M Chainsaw Powerhead
• MS 462 C-M Chainsaw Powerhead
• MS 201 T C-M Powerhead

If you have any information that could help our investigation, please send us a private message or contact us via our website quoting PR/45230138059.