Securing vans from break-ins and theft

Figures show a rise in both van theft and tool theft, causing both operational and financial disruption to van drivers and businesses. So what can be done to secure vans?

In 2022, there were 35,098 incidents of tool theft reported to police forces – a 13 per cent increase from 2021, according to analysis of police data by Direct Line business insurance. In fact, it shows that tools were stolen every 15 minutes in 2022 across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
    
Tool theft can be very harmful for tradespeople as it prevents them from being able to do their jobs, losing them money from lost work and by having to replace tools. Additional research from Direct Line business insurance found that the average value of tradespeople’s tools that had been taken from their vehicle was £3,425. This equates to a combined loss of £66 million, from the 19,147 cases of tool theft from vehicles in 2022.
    
Alison Traboulsi, product manager at Direct Line business insurance commented: “The rising frequency of tool theft up and down the country is alarming. Our research shows that over half of all tool thefts occurred from a vehicle, highlighting the importance of keeping tools secure, as well as having the correct insurance in place if theft does occur. Tool theft is hugely disruptive for hardworking tradespeople who rely on their tools for their livelihoods, so it’s vital that they do all they can to help protect themselves.”
    
Other research from Hertz Tools, using data from the Metropolitan Police, shows that there were 34,712 tools stolen in London alone from January 2021 to October 2022. That’s a 62 per cent increase from January 2019 to December 2020.

Preventing tool theft
So how can theft from vehicles be prevented?

The first, and most obvious answer, is to refrain from leaving tools in vans overnight, albeit inconvenient. Consideration as to where you park your van can help deter thieves. A well-lit area, close to other vehicles will help, as will parking in a carpark with CCTV.

When parking at home, install security devices, such as cameras and alarms, and make sure these measures are visible and signposted.
    
An easy way to deter potential criminals is to reverse into your driveway and park it close to a wall as this makes it harder to access the rear doors. And it goes without saying that vans must be locked, and double checked.
    
There are also secure storage solutions that tradespeople can use, such as a tool cabinet with a secure locking system and other security design features. For really extra protection, a vault or safe could be installed which is opened by lock code or key and can be fitted with alarm systems.
    
Tradespeople could also hide tools and equipment out of sight, such as under the boot floor.

Upgrade locks and alarms
Consideration should be given to the type of locks a van has. There are two main types of van security locks – a slamlock and a deadlock.
    
Slamlocks lock the van as soon as you slam the doors shut, which is convenient but does pose the risk that you could accidentally lock your keys in the van. Slamlocks are a good option for delivery drivers how make short and frequent stops as they could stop opportunist thieves.
    
Deadlocks are separate to a van’s internal locks and you lock them manually. They’re difficult to force open and are a good option is a van is unattended for long periods of time. To make them even more secure, you could also add steel plates around the locks to stop thieves drilling around the lock to break in.
    
If your van does not have its own alarm, you can get one fitted by a professional. It’s worth getting a Thatcham Approved alarm. Thatcham Research is a ‘not for profit’ insurer funded research centre, and provides a holistic view of the benefits or shortcomings of new and current vehicle technologies.
    
It is also worth checking if your insurance policy covers tool theft. Specific tool insurance can cover the cost of replacing damage to your tools, whether that’s from theft or an accident.

Van theft
Analysis of statistics released from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) by AA Insurance Services show a substantial hike in vehicle theft, which increased by 24.9 per cent in 2022 compared to the previous year. Similarly, theft from vehicles rose by 9.9 per cent and residential burglary increased by 2.9 per cent.
    
Across England in Wales in 2021, 104,435 had their vehicles stolen compared to 130,389 last year. For the same period (2022) 212,900 people had items stolen out of their vehicle compared to 193,647 the year before. Devon and Cornwall Police were unable to supply figures to the ONS, so the true figure is likely to be higher.
    
Thieves are using a variety of hi-tech methods – such as relay theft, key cloning and signal blocking – to steal vans.
    
AA Insurance Services advises using visible deterrents such as a steering wheel lock, to keep thieves at bay as these can’t be overcome by these more modern methods of van crime.
    
Gus Park, managing director for AA Insurance Services, said: “Unfortunately, there is no one thing that can guarantee keeping your car safe from theft, but just making it a bit harder for the thieves can make it less likely that they’ll go for your car. Don’t give miscreants an easy win, make them think about finding an easier target than your pride and joy.”