Milwaukee Tools spoke out after police found an estimated £1.5 million to £2 million worth of stolen tools at a property in Ilford, following thefts from contractors in Tilbury, Essex. Paul Strong, head of marketing at Milwaukee Tools, said: "Tool theft is more than just a crime; it's an epidemic that seriously impacts the livelihoods of tradespeople and causes costly project delays across the industry. "As tool theft continues to rise, we need a concerted effort to combat it." The theft in Tilbury had the potential to cause significant disruption and financial loss to the HS2 high-speed rail project. Police are urging tradespeople to mark items with synthetic DNA and register serial numbers with the manufacturer and the UK National Property Register.