Van drivers across the UK are being targeted by thieves on the hunt for expensive tools, with research revealing over a quarter have had equipment stolen from vans in the last 12 months.

A study by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles found over half of van drivers (57%) who own tools are at risk, as they regularly leave gear in vans overnight. Yet nearly a third (31%) are not protecting their expensive equipment with extra alarms, secondary locks, or vehicle trackers.

London is the hotspot for tool theft with 55% of tradespeople having equipment stolen in the past year, followed by the West Midlands (33%), North East (28%), North West (25%), and East Anglia (23%).

An average of 20,000 individual cases are reported to police forces across the UK each year, with the estimated cost of replacement tools and equipment standing at £15 million a year.

The cost of tool theft to businesses is more than just replacement equipment, too, with tradespeople often unable to work while vans are re-stocked and locks repaired. Downtime costs companies an estimated £550 a day per van.

Volkswagen security protects from Theft from vans
Van Security: Mitigating Risk

The first step to protecting your vehicle is thinking about where you park it. Parking in a well-lit area or in a car park with CCTV will help reduce unwanted attention. Where this cannot be achieved or if you have more than one vehicle, parking them defensively – in other words, where doors are blocked by another vehicle or object – can be a good deterrent.

Van Security: Volkswagen Offers

For Volkswagen van owners who wish to further increase the security of their vehicles there are various options available. As part of the Business Pack available across its range of Caddy, Transporter and Crafter, an anti-theft alarm system can be specified with interior monitoring, a back-up horn and tow-away protection. As part of its Working With You promise, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles also offers a variety of lockable racking solutions and storage boxes for expensive tools.

Another option is Volkswagen’s We Connect, available as standard across the majority of the range. The innovative system allows you to check important information on your smartphone while you’re away from your vehicle, such as if doors are locked or lights are left on. We Connect Plus offers additional security benefits, such as the online anti-theft warning system, which immediately sends a message to the linked mobile phone in the event of a burglary attempt.

David Hanna, Head of Sales Operations at Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, commented: “Tool theft is a massive problem for tradespeople with thieves targeting vans parked up overnight across the country. It not only costs van drivers millions in buying new kit, but also impacts their ability to do their jobs, further impacting their finances. We’re urging people who own expensive equipment to take extra precautions to deter would-be thieves, whether that’s removing items overnight, adding extra security measures, or avoiding parking in unlit, secluded areas.”

Phil Huff
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