Many tradespeople store their work tools and equipment in their van. So, as a result of this, it’s extremely important to make sure that the van is kept secure. There are many different van security measures you can take to keep your van safe from theft.
We’ve created this guide on different ways that you can keep your van secure. These tips should help you to protect the belongings that you store in your van and prevent thieves from trying to break into your van.
Park your van in a secure place
You should always try to park your van in a safe, well-lit space, ideally with CCTV, when you’re out and about. Think about it, if your van is parked in a dark and empty side street that has no CCTV it will be seen as an easy target by potential thieves.
So, make sure you park your van in a safe and secure parking spot to ward away any thieves!
When parking your van at home, there are a couple of things you can do to keep it secure:
● If your driveway is dark and gloomy, you should install a motion sensor so that if someone walks down your driveway the light will shine. This will hopefully deter any thieves.
● If you have a garage, be sure to park your van in there so that it’s secure behind closed doors.
● Protect your side and rear doors by parking close to a wall or reverse parking up against a building or wall.
Security features and modifications for vans
Most new vans will have great security features like alarm systems or trackers, so if you have a new van it’s important to understand which security features your van has. You should research what the features you have
can do and ensure that you are using them correctly. If you have an older van, we will take you through some security modifications that you can carry out on your van to enhance its security.
Steering wheel lock
A steering wheel lock is an old-fashioned way to keep a vehicle secure, but it still works and can act as a visual deterrent for thieves. They are quick to install and can be stored away easily, so they are definitely a security modification to consider when trying to keep your van secure.
Extra van locks
There are a number of different locks that you can fit onto your van to add an extra layer of security. These locks include:
● Stoplocks: these work by linking the rear van doors together. This prevents them from being pried open by a crowbar. Stoplocks can also be fitted to side doors.
● Slam locks: these work by automatically locking when the van door is shut. They are great for delivery drivers, who are constantly opening and closing the van door to get packages, as they won’t have to rely on remembering to lock the door each time.
● Deadlocks: these are great if you leave your van parked outside overnight. They add an extra layer of security as they are manually locked and unlocked by a key, like a deadlock on the front door of your house. It’s important to ensure that deadlocks are fitted properly.
If you get any additional locks fitted on your van, it’s important to make your van insurance company aware as it may affect your policy premium or cover.
Window panels in your rear van doors
Are the window panels in your rear van doors clear? If so, they could be providing potential thieves with a clear view of the tools and equipment in the back of your van.
You should consider coating your windows so that people can’t see through the glass. You can also get your window panels coated with a security film that prevents the glass from shattering in the event that someone tries to break into your van.
Trackers
Trackers can’t prevent a thief from stealing your van, however, in the event that your van is stolen, a tracker can help you to find the van and recover it.
Mark your van, tools and equipment
You can mark your van, tools and equipment by writing your business name and address on them with a UV pen. These marks will remain invisible until shone under a UV light. It’s a good idea to mark your tools and equipment as oftentimes when tools are being sold second-hand, people will check for markings to ensure that the tools are being sold from the person who marked the goods and that they weren’t stolen and being re-sold.
Visible marks like engravings can also act as a visible deterrent for thieves. When they see that tools or equipment are marked with an engravement they will be less likely to steal them as they will have less success when trying to sell them.
Insure your van with AXA
AXA provides van insurance for private and commercial use. You can opt for a standard or premier van insurance package.
Also, if you have a car insurance policy with AXA, you can get a 30% discount on your van insurance policy.
So, if you want to insure your van with AXA, please fill in our van insurance quote form and our team will be in touch.
