Tradespeople have been warned thieves are using social media to target them for their valuable tools and equipment.

Motoring insurance experts from CompareNI are urging tradespeople to avoid posting pictures of work vans and equipment online.

Over 106,000 people in Northern Ireland work in skilled trade, that’s 12% of the population – higher than the average across the UK at 9%.*

Four in five burglars use social media to find and select potential victims, making those posting online easy targets.**

Tradespeople are particularly vulnerable to thieves, and tools are often the target of criminal activity, a crime which is on the rise.

• Over 80% of UK builders have been victims of tool theft, with the average claim costing over £5,000.*
• It is estimated that over a 40-year working life, a builder will lose an eye-watering £10,000 worth of tools.*

Advertising or posting business photos and information to social media sites such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter could entice criminals.
Thieves can use any information posted on social media or online to find out locations, possessions, and the levels of security around your valuables.
They can also monitor posts for geo-tagging and holiday photos to pounce when tradespeople are away from their vans and equipment for an easy target.

Tradespeople should use social media with caution and be mindful of the information they share:

• Update privacy settings and secure accounts with two-factor authentication.
• Turn off location settings before posting anything online.
• Avoid announcing you are away on holiday or visiting family over Christmas.

Failing to take these precautions could leave tradespeople in major financial trouble and unable to work until costly tools are replaced – it could even invalidate their insurance.

Expert Advice from CompareNI

Managing Director and car insurance expert at CompareNI.com, Ian Wilson, said:

“Social media is a common tactic for burglars to find potential victims, and hardworking tradespeople are often targeted for their equipment.

“This means they must be extremely cautious of what they post online because opportunistic thieves are always on the lookout for easy targets – especially as we enter the festive season when social media and photos may be more readily used.

“It’s normally a requirement of your insurance that you take good care of your vehicle or the insured items in question – some insurers may feel that displaying items on social media is irresponsible and shows a lack of care, which could render the insurance void.

“Tradespeople sharing pictures and personal information must ensure they only have trusted family and friends on their profiles and that their privacy settings are up to date.

“Ensure location settings are turned off before posting anything to social networks and never post to social media that you are away on holiday or heading off to stay with family over Christmas.

“Simple things like marking or branding your tools can make it harder for thieves to sell on and therefore act as a deterrent.

“It’s also important to ensure you’re protected with accurate insurance for your particular business, so if something goes wrong you have the help and funds to continue working.

“Tool insurance is a type of policy that reimburses owners for the cost of tools if they get stolen, and could be a lifeline for those unable to afford to replace expensive equipment.”

About CompareNI

CompareNI helps hundreds of thousands of users every year find savings on household bills and essentials such as home and car insurance, plus niche products such as van tool, commercial van, and young driver van insurance.