Van security is set to become a priority for many busiesses. Whilst the lockdown has put the viability of many businesses under pressure, the delivery and logistics market has seen a boom thanks to those that have been locked down shopping online.
Growth of the delivery sector had been widely predicted to grow and this was before the word ‘Coronavirus’ had ever been uttered. An increase in vans on the road has led to opportunities for thieves. An average of 30 vans are stolen every day* costing businesses over £61million in lost tools and business in the last four years. And with the number of vans on the road increasing, these figures could be set to grow.
Deterring LCV van theft
If your business operates using a fleet of vans, there are several steps you can take to keep your vans and their contents safe from thieves.
Keep windows closed. It seems like a ridiculous thing to say doesn’t it, but this is a great one for opportunists. When the van is left a quick check to ensure that the windows are fully closed will deter a potential thief.
No tools are kept in this van overnight. We’ve all seen these stickers. Again, this acts as a deterrent to a thief. It indicates that you have thought about LCV crime and wish to protect your van and its contents. Faced with a choice, a thief would attempt to break into a van without one of these stickers on the back.
Park your van safely. Most vans are broken into or stolen from residential areas. Make sure that they are parked in a well-lit and prominent position or locked up in a garage onsite.
Don’t leave your van unlocked and unattended. This sounds like an obvious one, but particularly for delivery drivers, this one can be a challenge. If a driver needs to deliver 4 parcels in one street, the chances are that they’ll park once and deliver the parcels in one go, even if it takes them away from the van for a few moments. Perfect picking for van theft!
Stopping LCV van theft
A survey by WhatCar? Found that 90% of new vans come with remote locking and 80% are fitted with a deadlock. But, only 42% of new vans have an alarm fitted as standard and 5% can’t even have one fitted!* This seems incredible today!
There are lots of accessories that can be installed to stop your van being stolen.
Have an alarm fitted
There is a range of alarms available on the market. The make and model you need will depend on your vehicle, but at the very least you should choose a Thatcham approved model that is recognised by your insurance company.
Don’t let them drive away! Van immobiliser
The Autowatch Ghost 2 immobiliser protects your van from key-cloning, hacking and key theft. Even if the van was towed away (which is the only way they’d be able to move it in the first place and hardly inconspicuous), it could never be driven!
Upgrade to LCV Slamlocks
This is your local courier’s best friend. A slamlock integrates with the van’s current locking mechanism. When the driver leaves the vehicle for a short period, the door locks behind them when slammed shut. There is no clicking of keys or checking required which is perfect for those with an armful of parcels.
LCV Deadlocks
A deadlock is a separate to the existing lock. It needs to be activated by a key and provides additional van security when the van is left unattended overnight or for a longer period than a quick hop out/hop in.
Here at Kits-n-Bits, we offer advice to businesses that have one van or a fleet of vans. Our experienced team will advise on the best commercial van security options to meet your budget and your insurers’ requirements. And then we’ll supply the products and install them at your premises. For more details email Rick via sales@kits-n-bits.com.
*https://www.rac.co.uk/business/news-advice/uk-van-theft-on-the-rise#:~:text=On%20average%2030%20vans%20stolen%20every%20day&text=A%20recent%20study%20has%20highlighted,and%20other%20items%20since%202016.