Protect Your Van From Break-Ins and Theft
Van thefts are on the rise across the UK, but commonly thieves are opting to simply break in to the van to steal the goods that are inside as these are easier and quicker to sell on afterwards. The most commonly stolen items are work tools which have a high resale value for thieves and are costly for owners to replace. On top of this, owners may be unable to work until these tools are replaced. In 2022, it was reported that UK businesses suffered £3.5bn worth of equipment stolen from the backs of vans. Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles reported, in the same time period, that 36% of van owners were the victims of theft. Volkswagen also reported that the average van owner keeps over £2,150 worth of tools in their vans overnight.
A Freedom of Information request sent to all police forces across the UK detailed over 9,000 reports of tool theft in 2022, with London topping the list with over 6,000 reports.
So, how can you protect your van and the valuable contents inside from during the "peel and steal" pandemic?
1. Deadlocks and Additional Security
Installing high quality additional locks to the exterior of your van can serve to protect it from thieves in several ways. These locks provide an extra layer of security that the criminals must get through before they can get inside your van. It is recommended that these are installed in all rear doors of your van and in a slightly higher up position to protect against the peel away method often used by thieves. Further, this extra layer of security means the thieves will take longer getting into the van, giving more time for them to be disturbed or for the police to arrive.
Similarly, the thieves want a quick and easy steal with the least chance of getting caught. Just the visual of a big lock on the door may discourage them from even attempting to break in to your van, instead opting for an easier target.
Prices vary from brand to brand, and so does the quality. Make sure you do your research and speak to suppliers and fitters to see what they recommend.
Likewise, additional alarms can be fitted that are wired to van's alarm system. Often, alarms are not triggered when rear doors are broken into. These alarm systems are designed to trigger during such a break in. Research passive infrared detector.
2. Conscious Parking and Situational Awareness
Being mindful of where you park your van both at home and on jobs can make a huge difference when a thief is deciding whether to target your van. A top tip is parking close to wall where possible; this limits the ease of access thieves have to your rear compartment. When this is not an option, keep an eye out for private and council CCTV cameras that you park close to, as well as street lighting at night. Thieves are switched on to the locations of CCTV and highly-populated areas.
If you park on your driveway at night, consider purchasing a motion activated light. Some brands even offer these with cameras fitted to them too that notify you through an app when motion is detected.
Where possible, remove all valuables from your van at night. We know this is not always possible, so consider purchasing secure storage containers for the back of your van that the high value items can be locked in. Again, this additional line of security will delay the thieves getting in and may even deter them.
3. Ultraviolet Marking For Tools
There are several products on the market, such as Smartwater and Immobilise, that can help reunited you with your items in the unfortunate event that they are stolen. Invisible to naked eye, these markings can be identified by police and help track down the lawful owner. As a cheaper alternative, you can buy a UV pen online and write your details on them. As a general practice, the police scan all stolen items, such as tools, with a UV line to seek out any such markings. Immobilise allows you to register any product that has a serial number on it, adding it to a database that the police have access to.
For more information on police approved markings, visit Secured by Design.
Whilst this list is by no means exhaustive and does not guarantee your van will be safe, we hope these tips can be useful in deterring thieves from even trying.
