FOI 0165-2025/26- Tool thefts

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Request:

I am writing to request information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 regarding tool theft offences recorded by your force.

I would be grateful if you could provide the following data, ideally covering the past five years. If five years of data is not available, the most recent two years will suffice:

Q1. The number of reported tool thefts, broken down by:

- Theft from vehicles

- Theft from residences

- Theft from workplaces

Please include this data by postcode area, if possible.

Q2. For thefts from vehicles:

- The make and model of the vehicles targeted

- The number of offences associated with each make and model

Q3. The time of day and day of the week when these offences occurred, segmented by theft location (vehicle, residence, workplace).

Q4. The recorded outcomes of these offences, including:

Whether the tools were recovered

Whether an arrest was made

Whether the case resulted in no further action

Q5. Monthly breakdown of tool thefts over the requested time period.

Q6. Number of tool theft offences by postcode area.

Q7. A breakdown of the types or categories of tools stolen, and the number of incidents involving each type.

Response:

Extent and Result of Searches to Locate Information

To locate the information relevant to your request searches were conducted within North Yorkshire Police.

I can confirm that the information you have requested is held by North Yorkshire Police.

Decision

I have today decided to disclose the following information to you.

Q1, Q5 & Q6. Please see the table below showing the number of crimes recorded between 01 January 2020 and 26^th May 2025 where ‘machinary or tools’ or ‘garden tools’ are linked as stolen broken down by calendar year and month, MO location and safer neighbourhood command SNC. I am exempting the specific postcodes of where these crimes occured pursuant to Section 40(2) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the Act). Please see the exemption explanation below.

Recorded Date (Year)	Recorded Date (Month)	Distinct Count
2020
	Jan	68
	Feb	63
	Mar	55
	Apr	31
	May	42
	Jun	56
	Jul	58
	Aug	40
	Sep	62
	Oct	77
	Nov	47
	Dec	37
2021
	Jan	31
	Feb	25
	Mar	40
	Apr	37
	May	37
	Jun	54
	Jul	42
	Aug	60
	Sep	51
	Oct	34
	Nov	42
	Dec	34
2022
	Jan	28
	Feb	28
	Mar	40
	Apr	39
	May	47
	Jun	43
	Jul	41
	Aug	39
	Sep	35
	Oct	32
	Nov	33
	Dec	25
2023
	Jan	36
	Feb	40
	Mar	41
	Apr	39
	May	40
	Jun	38
	Jul	57
	Aug	42
	Sep	50
	Oct	52
	Nov	24
	Dec	36
2024
	Jan	61
	Feb	46
	Mar	49
	Apr	46
	May	37
	Jun	48
	Jul	42
	Aug	35
	Sep	61
	Oct	46
	Nov	36
	Dec	25
2025
	Jan	52
	Feb	25
	Mar	32
	Apr	41
	May	55
Total		2785

MO Location	Distinct Count
Commercial	720
Dwelling	892
Education	15
Hospitality	35
Leisure	19
Medical	3
Military	1
Moving vehicle	25
Not recorded	290
Public building	1
Public/open place	612
Shop	172
Total	2785

SNC	Distinct Count
Craven SNC	253
Hambleton & Richmondshire SNC	500
Harrogate SNC	504
Scarborough & Ryedale SNC	468
Selby SNC	403
York SNC	650
Unallocated	7
Total	2785

Q2. Please see the table below showing the number of theft from vehicle crimes recorded between 01 January 2020 and 26^th May 2025, broken down by make and model of vehicle.

Make	Model	Distinct Count
ALFA ROMEO
	GIULIETTA	1
AUDI
	A3	1
	A4	1
BMW
	3 SERIES	4
	NOT RECORDED	2
CASE
	NOT RECORDED	2
CITROEN
	BERLINGO	14
	DISPATCH	30
	NEMO	3
	NOT RECORDED	3
	RELAY	9
DAF
	NOT RECORDED	4
FIAT
	DOBLO	2
	DUCATO	5
	FIORINO	1
	MULTIPLA	1
	NOT RECORDED	3
	SCUDO	10
FORD
	C-MAX	1
	FIESTA	5
	FOCUS	3
	KUGA	1
	MONDEO	4
	NOT RECORDED	9
	PUMA	1
	RANGER	14
	S-MAX	1
	TRANSIT	133
HONDA
	JAZZ	1
HYUNDAI
	I30	1
ISUZU
	D-MAX	6
	NOT RECORDED	1
	PICK-UP	2
	RODEO	1
ISUZU TRUC
	NOT RECORDED	5
IVECO
	DAILY	6
	NOT RECORDED	1
JAGUAR
	NOT RECORDED	1
JCB
	NOT RECORDED	1
JOHN DEERE
	NOT RECORDED	2
KAWASAKI
	NOT RECORDED	1
KIA
	SORENTO	1
LAND ROVER
	DEFENDER	2
	DISCOVERY	4
LDV
	400 SERIES	1
	MAXUS	1
	NOT RECORDED	2
MASSEY FERGUSON
	NOT RECORDED	1
MAZDA
	NOT RECORDED	1
MERCEDES - BENZ
	A CLASS	2
	CL CLASS	1
	E CLASS	1
	G CLASS	1
	NOT RECORDED	6
	SPRINTER	14
	VITO	5
MITSUBISHI
	CANTER	1
	L200	2
	NOT RECORDED	3
	SHOGUN	1
NISSAN
	NAVARA	3
	NOT RECORDED	1
	NV200	2
	PRIMASTAR	1
	X-TRAIL	1
NULL
	NOT RECORDED	147
PEUGEOT
	3008	1
	308	1
	BIPPER	3
	BOXER	7
	EXPERT	20
	NOT RECORDED	2
	PARTNER	10
RENAULT
	KANGOO	2
	MASTER	9
	NOT RECORDED	1
	TRAFIC	16
SCANIA
	NOT RECORDED	1
SEAT
	ARONA	1
SKODA
	FABIA	1
	OCTAVIA	1
SSANGYONG
	NOT RECORDED	1
SUBARU
	FORESTER	1
SUZUKI
	ALTO	1
	VITARA	2
TOYOTA
	HIACE	1
	HILUX	12
	NOT RECORDED	1
	PROACE	1
	YARIS	1
VAUXHALL
	ASTRA	3
	COMBO	8
	CORSA	2
	INSIGNIA	1
	MERIVA	1
	MOVANO	8
	NOT RECORDED	6
	VECTRA	1
	VIVA	2
	VIVARO	29
	ZAFIRA	2
VOLKSWAGEN
	CADDY	9
	CARAVELLE	1
	NOT RECORDED	2
	PASSAT	1
	POLO	1
	TIGUAN	1
	TRANSPORTER	11
	T-SPORTER	1
VOLVO
	C30	1
	NOT RECORDED	2
	S60	1
	V50	1
	V70	1
WHITE KNUCKLE (WK)
	NOT RECORDED	1
Total		679

*please note, the above relates to vehicle involved with the 'Theft from' Classification

Q3. Please see the table below showing the number of crimes recorded between 01 January 2020 and 26^th May 2025 where ‘machinary or tools’ or ‘garden tools’ are linked as stolen broken down by committed weekday and MO location, committed hour and MO location. I am exempting the specific times of these crimes and I have disassociated the tables pursuant to Section 40(2) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the Act). Please see the exemption explanation below.

Committed Weekday	MO Location	Distinct Count
Monday
	Commercial	101
	Dwelling	130
	Education	5
	Hospitality	3
	Leisure	1
	Moving vehicle	4
	Not recorded	33
	Public building	1
	Public/open place	97
	Shop	23
Tuesday
	Commercial	116
	Dwelling	130
	Education	1
	Hospitality	7
	Leisure	5
	Medical	1
	Moving vehicle	2
	Not recorded	39
	Public/open place	103
	Shop	40
Wednesday
	Commercial	98
	Dwelling	150
	Education	1
	Hospitality	7
	Leisure	4
	Medical	1
	Military	1
	Moving vehicle	8
	Not recorded	52
	Public/open place	96
	Shop	28
Thursday
	Commercial	103
	Dwelling	124
	Education	4
	Hospitality	4
	Leisure	5
	Medical	1
	Not recorded	56
	Public/open place	98
	Shop	29
Friday
	Commercial	120
	Dwelling	144
	Hospitality	5
	Leisure	1
	Moving vehicle	5
	Not recorded	45
	Public/open place	103
	Shop	18
Saturday
	Commercial	102
	Dwelling	109
	Education	2
	Hospitality	5
	Leisure	2
	Moving vehicle	2
	Not recorded	34
	Public/open place	53
	Shop	23
Sunday
	Commercial	80
	Dwelling	105
	Education	2
	Hospitality	4
	Leisure	1
	Moving vehicle	4
	Not recorded	31
	Public/open place	62
	Shop	11
Total		2785

Committed Hour	MO Location	Distinct Count
0
	Commercial	196
	Dwelling	257
	Education	6
	Hospitality	6
	Leisure	2
	Medical	1
	Military	1
	Moving vehicle	7
	Not recorded	76
	Public building	1
	Public/open place	130
	Shop	12
1
	Commercial	16
	Dwelling	17
	Hospitality	1
	Moving vehicle	1
	Not recorded	5
	Public/open place	20
	Shop	1
2
	Commercial	12
	Dwelling	29
	Hospitality	4
	Leisure	1
	Moving vehicle	3
	Not recorded	5
	Public/open place	8
	Shop	1
3
	Commercial	5
	Dwelling	21
	Not recorded	3
	Public/open place	7
4
	Commercial	1
	Dwelling	8
	Not recorded	1
	Public/open place	1
5
	Commercial	6
	Dwelling	8
	Not recorded	1
	Public/open place	3
6
	Commercial	3
	Dwelling	4
	Not recorded	2
	Public/open place	4
7
	Commercial	10
	Dwelling	15
	Not recorded	3
	Public/open place	6
	Shop	1
8
	Commercial	10
	Dwelling	8
	Hospitality	1
	Moving vehicle	1
	Not recorded	2
	Public/open place	6
	Shop	3
9
	Commercial	8
	Dwelling	14
	Leisure	1
	Not recorded	6
	Public/open place	9
	Shop	8
10
	Commercial	6
	Dwelling	23
	Not recorded	7
	Public/open place	12
	Shop	12
11
	Commercial	9
	Dwelling	20
	Education	1
	Moving vehicle	1
	Not recorded	6
	Public/open place	12
	Shop	14
12
	Commercial	23
	Dwelling	27
	Education	2
	Hospitality	1
	Medical	1
	Not recorded	11
	Public/open place	26
	Shop	17
13
	Commercial	3
	Dwelling	17
	Hospitality	1
	Not recorded	6
	Public/open place	22
	Shop	13
14
	Commercial	11
	Dwelling	21
	Education	1
	Hospitality	3
	Not recorded	9
	Public/open place	29
	Shop	21
15
	Commercial	19
	Dwelling	30
	Hospitality	2
	Leisure	2
	Moving vehicle	1
	Not recorded	11
	Public/open place	22
	Shop	16
16
	Commercial	58
	Dwelling	42
	Education	1
	Hospitality	2
	Leisure	2
	Not recorded	21
	Public/open place	36
	Shop	12
17
	Commercial	98
	Dwelling	50
	Education	3
	Hospitality	4
	Leisure	3
	Moving vehicle	3
	Not recorded	28
	Public/open place	46
	Shop	16
18
	Commercial	73
	Dwelling	58
	Hospitality	1
	Moving vehicle	3
	Not recorded	28
	Public/open place	56
	Shop	10
19
	Commercial	28
	Dwelling	27
	Hospitality	1
	Leisure	2
	Moving vehicle	1
	Not recorded	12
	Public/open place	25
	Shop	10
20
	Commercial	31
	Dwelling	35
	Hospitality	3
	Leisure	3
	Medical	1
	Moving vehicle	3
	Not recorded	13
	Public/open place	35
	Shop	2
21
	Commercial	31
	Dwelling	35
	Education	1
	Hospitality	3
	Leisure	1
	Not recorded	13
	Public/open place	22
22
	Commercial	34
	Dwelling	75
	Hospitality	2
	Moving vehicle	1
	Not recorded	11
	Public/open place	50
23
	Commercial	29
	Dwelling	51
	Leisure	2
	Not recorded	10
	Public/open place	25
	Shop	3
Total		2785

Q4. Please see the table below showing the number of crimes recorded between 01 January 2020 and 26^th May 2025 where ‘machinary or tools’ or ‘garden tools’ are linked as stolen broken down by outcome and property classification

Outcome	Distinct Count
01-Charged/Summonsed	92
03-Caution – adults	1
08-Community Resolution	8
09-Not in public interest (CPS)	2
10-Not in public interest (Police)	5
14-Evidential difficulties victim based – suspect not identified	104
15-Evidential difficulties prevent further action; victim supports police action	139
16-Evidential difficulties prevent further action; victim does not support police action	49
17-Prosecution time limit expired	1
18-Investigation complete - no suspect identified	2309
20-Action by other agency	1
21-No Investigation - Not in public interest (Police)	8
22-Diversionary or referral pathway; no public interest	3
Not yet assigned	63
Total	2785

Classification	Distinct Count
Found;Stolen	2
Recovered by owner;Stolen	4
Recovered by police;Stolen	4
Recovered by police;Stolen recovered	1
Stolen recovered	29
Stolen recovered;Stolen	36
Stolen;Seized	2
Total	78

There are 236 crimes with an arrest linked.

Q7. Please see the table below showing the number of crimes recorded between 01 January 2020 and 26^th May 2025 where ‘machinary or tools’ or ‘garden tools’ are linked as stolen broken down by property type.

Prop Type	Prop Type 2	Distinct Count
Garden
	Garden power tools	397
Machinery or tools
	Agricultural machinery or tools	109
	Compressor equipment	28
	Construction equipment	89
	Garden hand tools	34
	Generator	118
	Hand tools	617
	Heating/Cooling equipment	40
	Ladders/Steps	76
	Lifting equipment	12
	Not recorded	95
	Other machinery or tools	800
	Power tools	1125
	Pressure washer/Cleaner	96
	Welding equipment	29
Total		2785

Exemption Explanation

Section 40 – Personal Information

Where an individual can be identified by such data, releasing it would clearly breach the first data protection principle of being ‘fair’ to the data subject.

Section 17 of the Act requires North Yorkshire Police, when refusing to provide such information (because the information is exempt) to provide you the applicant with a notice which: (a) states that fact, (b) specifies the exemption in question and (c) states (if that would not otherwise be apparent) why the exemption applies.

Section 40(2) is an absolute class based exemption, which does not require a public interest test, but requires the balancing of the legitimate interests of the public against the interests of the individual under the first Data Protection Principle; in that processing of personal data must be lawful and fair (DPA 2018 35(1), EUGDPR Article 5(1)).

This exemption applies because the right given under the FOI Act to request official information held by public authorities does not apply to the personal data of third parties where disclosure of that information would not be fair to the individual, and where there is no legitimate public interest in disclosure.

In all the circumstances of the case it has been determined that the duty to the individual under the Data Protection Act 2018 & EU General Data Protection Regulations, and the public interest in maintaining the exemption from disclosure of personal information held by the force in such instances, outweighs the public interest in disclosure. In this instance, personal information can only be disclosed to the individual concerned.

Releasing personal details to a person other than the data subject would not only breach the data subject’s Data Protection rights it may also breach the obligations placed on an authority under the European Convention on Human Rights

Pursuant to Section 17(1) of the Act this letter acts as a refusal notice under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 in relation to your request.

Please note that systems used for recording information are not generic, nor are the procedures used locally in capturing the data. It should be noted therefore that this force’s response to your questions should not be used for comparison purposes with any other responses you may receive.

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FOI 0165-2025/26- Tool thefts