4 ways to make power tools harder to steal aside from Milwaukee OneKey™ or Apple AirTags

Published Nov 5, 2026, 12:00 PM EST Steve has been editing and writing content for almost two decades, including product reviews, tech news, how-to guides, and even lifestyle and health topics. He’s served as chief editor for publications like Tech Junkie and Alphr, and has written and edited content for many other tech-related sites. His expertise in Windows, Android, iOS, Mac, and Linux simplifies the gadget and computer world for others, enabling them to shop, connect, learn, tweak, and optimize devices and software to suit their needs. When he’s not writing or editing content, he enjoys repairing and optimizing devices (and game consoles), watching movies, golfing, and spending time with the family. Tools are not cheap, especially when you have a bunch of them. It’s like an investment, so to speak. You put a lot of money into your tool collection, and theft can become a costly setback, not to mention a frustrating experience. Sure, Milwaukee’s external OneKey tags help you track down your stolen tools (any brand) and even report them as stolen, but unless it is built into the tool (some Milwaukee tools), the tag can be removed, just like using Apple AirTags. So what else is there? Here are some ways to help prevent theft of your power tools without relying on digital gadgets or features, especially ones that can be removed. Paint bright colors, use markers in various areas, and apply stickers so it stands out Credit: Amazon / Mighty Marker Thieves don’t have time to play around with renewing a tool. In fact, most of them hate seeing tools covered in all kinds of markings. If you make yours "ugly" with a bunch of paint, markers, and some business stickers, they’ll be less interested in stealing your gear. This doesn’t mean it can’t happen, but it significantly reduces the chances. You may own high-quality DeWalt power tools or have an assortment of Milwaukee and Ryobi. It doesn't matter what brands you have. Adding markings helps protect them from theft by making them seem less valuable to a thief. When using markers, I recommend industrial-grade, chemical-resistant paint markers that hold up against various chemicals, including acetone-based nail polish removers. I also suggest coloring over some of the brand’s labeling on your tools, as removing it could also remove the brand’s markings in some situations, making it less enticing to steal. You can also mark them in inconspicuous locations where it may go unnoticed, leading to a traceable mark back to you if recovered. If a thief plans to sell your tools, they’d have a lot of work to do to renew them because of all the markings and other steps you take to secure them. If they plan to use the tools, they know they can be identified as stolen based on their appearance, which makes them easier to spot. The bottom line is that a thief who intends to resell your stolen tools needs them to look good enough to sell and easy to renew, which you make harder for them to do. Plus, they need to make them look like they weren’t stolen. Vanlgs Engraving Pen for Metal, Wood, Glass, and Plastic Special features Variable Speed Battery Life 5 Hours Vanlgs engraving tool featuring LED Lights, 5 variable speeds, and a rechargeable battery. GWEIKE G2 Max 50W Fiber Laser Engraver GWEIKE G2 Max 50W Fiber Laser Engraver with red-light preview and speeds up to 15000 mm/s. It’s a permanent mark and a deterrent to reselling them as stolen goods Engraving or laser-etching a tool is one definite way to prevent theft because you mark it in a way that's impossible to remove, especially on power tools. Sure, it can be sanded or ground down, but then there is evidence that it was done. That’s why you’ll also mark the tools in other ways, too—more on this later. When you engrave or laser etch the tool, you make the markings permanently visible to help deter theft. Start by marking the upper area where visibility is higher and maybe etch somewhere toward the bottom so it has two guaranteed markings. Adding an ID number also deters theft because it shows the tool is tracked and on record. Another trick to increase the engraving’s visibility is to add a little white paint into the grooves. It can wear away over time, but you can always apply more paint later. It’s another way to deter theft by making the markings more noticeable when lying around or even sitting in a toolbox. Even if you just etch the word tracked and a number, it works Credit: Milwaukee Whether you're a homeowner or contractor, tracking your inventory is essential. Thieves often skip tools they think are tracked because they don’t know how you monitor them. Instead, they’ll move on and find an easier target. Engraving or laser etching is the best option, but stickers can also work. The point is to mark your tools so you can track them and identify them more easily during recovery. It can also prevent others from claiming the tools as their own. If you use tracking tags like Milwaukee’s OneKey or Apple AirTag, you can use them to find the tools while your tracking number and other markings identify them as your property. Lock ‘em up in storage or with a cable when possible Make it time-consuming to steal them Have you ever noticed that big-box retailers use cables and locks on their power equipment and grills displayed outside the building? Several cables run through multiple items and are connected with locks to prevent theft, slow the process down, and help deter it. You can use the same concept with your power tool collection. Many tools don’t have a way to run a thick cable through them, like the Milwaukee M12 series power tools, but many do have vents where a thinner cable can pass through and connect to a thicker one. You can strap them all together to make it harder to steal, and even fasten them to your tool storage chest in your garage or on the job site. Add eye bolts inside to run the cable through all the tools and the bolts. Not only will thieves have to drill or cut the lock or pry the box open, but they'll also have to cut the cable to free the tools, which takes more time. You may also want to use the cable-and-lock setup to strap the tool chest so it cannot be hauled away easily, and maybe do the same for big power tools like a drill press, miter saw, table saw, and jigsaw. Besides cable-locking your tools, you can secure them in a portable toolbox or chest with a lock, so it's harder to access. This method also hides them, making them less tempting to steal. Leaving tools lying around is risky. Yeah, locking and unlocking cables or storage is a pain, but you’d feel more pain if your tools were not there when you need them because someone else felt they needed them more than you. Ridgid 32-inch Lockable Jobsite Storage Chest Universal, lockable Ridgid storage chest (32 in. W x 19 in. D) for your garage or job site needs to store tools and accessories. Preventing tool theft requires more than just tracking features and devices Yes, external tracking tags are a nice touch, but they're easy to remove, leaving your tools vulnerable to theft if you don’t add extra security measures. Laser etching and engraving create permanent marks that take a lot of effort to remove and leave noticeable traces, indicating the tools were potentially stolen. Paint marks, whether as department indicators or homeowner marks, also make them harder to remove, pushing thieves toward easier targets. Adding tracking notices to your tools deters theft because the thief doesn’t know how you're tracking them. Securing everything with cables or inside tool chests and toolboxes keeps it out of sight and out of mind, and it takes time to access. The more security measures you take, the less likely your tools are to go missing. The more evidence you have that the tool belongs to you or your business, the more likely it can be claimed by insurance or returned by law enforcement if recovered.