In the UK, a van is broken into every 23 minutes. New research by On The Tools reveals that 86% of UK tradespeople worry about tool theft, with 75% having experienced their tools being stolen.
Last month, tradespeople gathered at Parliament Square to protest tool theft by holding a slow drive demonstration in their vans. The vans were marked with slogans like “hands off our van”. The Protest organiser Shoaib Awan, a gas engineer, set up Trades United after £8,500 worth of his tools were stolen.
He said: “We want stricter laws against breaking into a tradesperson’s van. These are our offices, we work from them. It’s no longer acceptable. They need to understand the implications – mentally and financially – it has on us”
With van and tool theft being unfortunate regular occurrences, we have listed some ways you can help to prevent this:
1. Make sure you have insurance
First, check your level of cover to make sure it is adequate. Need to take insurance out? We’ve got you covered.
ARMD Tool Insurance - Worcester Bosch Accredited installers can get a 25% discount on tool insurance, an inventory app and £5 to spend on the ARMD store when registering for an account.
Park Insurance Services – competitive insurance rates for Worcester Bosch Accredited Installers, including Employer’s Liability insurance, Personal Accident cover, Tools cover and Excess Free Tradesperson Public Liability Insurance.*
Are you a member of our loyalty programme? Log in to the marketplace to access.
2. Increase your van security
Anti-theft devices, alarms, immobilisers, deadlocks, slam locks, ArmaPlate lock covers, van boxes/safes for your tools, steering wheel locks, handbrake locks, rear door locks, motion detector lights and CCTV. These are all methods you could use to increase security on your van.
3. Mark your tools and keep an inventory
Marking your tools could be a great deterrent for thieves, it will be harder for criminals to re-sell marked tools, therefore they will be less desirable. Keeping an inventory will also help with insurance claims and police statements if required. When purchasing ARMD Tool Insurance you will have access to a Tool inventory app to help you out. However, if you can, avoid leaving all your tools in your van and take as many out of your van as possible at night.
4. Think about where you park
It sounds straightforward, but where you park could help to avoid your van from being broken into. Park in a public, busy area with CCTV where possible. If you are parking at a customer's property or leaving your van on a driveway overnight, see if you can reverse your van against a wall or a garage to block the doors.