Important Steps to help protect your van from theft
News reports tell us that a van is broken into every 23 minutes in Britain – with van tool theft up by 30% as of April last year. Tradesmen and business owners are concerned that the UK is now facing a van tool theft crisis – and it’s a risk that worries many tradesmen. Becoming a victim of a van break in will cost you and your business a lot of money to replace your stolen or damaged tools and even the van itself – not forgetting the money you will if you have to take time off work to remedy the situation.
Van Contract Hire specialists, Northgate Vehicle Hire, give tips on what you can do to protect your van from the tool theft crisis.
What security options are there?
When you are purchasing your van(s), there are several security precautions to consider.
Security alarm
Car sensors, detect if anyone touches your van and beeps accordingly. It serves as a great deterrent for thieves. .
Immobiliser
You can have a security immobiliser fitted to your vehicle which protects your van from theft by electronically preventing the vehicle engine from running unless the correct key is present. Having a factory fitted immobiliser is will also reduce your insurance policy.
GPS tracker
Some fleet managers have their vans fitted with GPS trackers for operational reasons. But, they can be fitted as a security and safety measure. Electronic GPS trackers can increase your chances of recovering your van if you are the victim of van theft. Once again, having a GPS tracker system fitted can also reduce insurance premiums.
Tinted windows
Tinted windows make it more difficult to see inside – which reduces the chance of theft as thieves don’t know what is inside.
What can you do?
There are several things you can do to reduce the risks of being broken into.
- Park in a well-lit, busy area – areas covered by CCTV.
- Don’t leave any tools in sight.
- Don’t leave any valuables in the van unattended, especially overnight.
- Put a sign on your van saying no tools are kept in your van overnight – and adhere to this policy.
- Lock your van when it is unattended.
Tool insurance
Keep a record of all your tools that you keep in your van so if you van is broken into, you carry sufficient insurance and aren’t left out of pocket.
Between 2010 and 2016, the UK witnessed an worrying 40% growth in the average value of tool theft claims, and a 30.5% growth in the total number of claims. Given the current climate, taking out tool insurance should be a top priority.
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