POWERFUL NEW WICKES “ANGUISH” TOOL THEFT SCULPTURE TO BE AT FIXFEST!

A stunning highlight of the Wickes TradePro Tool Theft Zone will be their brand new “Anguish” sculpture crafted entirely from recycled tools.

Highlighting the anguish that comes from the tool theft epidemic, research* reveals over a third (38%) of UK tradespeople have been victims of tool theft, with the vast majority (99%) never recovered, leading to significant stress and anxiety

The recent launch in Leeds, one of the hardest hit areas, marks the start of Wickes’ national campaign who are pledging to mark over 260,000 tools for free across the UK in 2026 to support tradespeople nationwide. 

Created by renowned recycling artist Ptolemy Elrington in over 400 hours, the ‘jagged form’ is built from reclaimed power tools and spanners, with power tools deliberately dominating the structure as the most commonly stolen items.

Wickes and partner DeterTech will also be giving out free SmartWater tool marking kits and demonstrating how to use the forensic marking liquid. This liquid is invisible to the naked eye but glows under UV light, is extremely hard to remove, and provides a strong deterrent to thieves. The kits also include high‐visibility tamper‐resistant deterrent labels, ensuring tools are not only marked with forensic technology but also carry a bold, visible warning to ward off potential

More information on the campaign and tour dates can be found here