4 Tips To Help You Keep Your Commercial Van Safe And Secure
More often than not, your van is the most important work tool you own. Not only does it gets you from A to B, but it also serves as a mobile office, storage space, and even a canteen during your lunch hour! With your livelihood depending on keeping your van safe and secure, it is essential to take extra care to prevent theft and damage to your vehicle. According to a report, 50% of tradespeople who experience theft are unable to work the next day (with some having to take as much as two weeks off work). So, continue reading to find out four top tips to keep your van as safe and secure as possible.
1. Keep your tools safe
Taking tools out of your van every night might seem like overkill, but it is the most efficient way of making sure that even if your van is stolen, your tools will still be safe. If you insist on keeping tools in your van overnight, your best bet for keeping them safe would be to invest in a specially-designed, theft-proof toolbox.
If you have external equipment, such as ladders, you will probably not be able to take them in each night. So you will need to make sure that they are padlocked to prevent someone from pinching them right off your roof!
2. Think about parking
Parking carefully is the easiest way for you to make your van and its contents more secure. The vast majority of thieves are opportunistic, meaning that they prey upon people and vehicles when they are at their most vulnerable. So, if you frequently forget to lock your doors, park in dodgy areas or have windows that display your tools to the outside world – then you need to start paying closer attention!
Parking in a brightly lit area, with reliable CCTV, is obviously the best choice for reducing theft. If this is not possible, then making sure that you have the correct type of insurance and excellent van security is essential. If you are unable to keep your van on a privately maintained and secure car park, then taking a few extra measures at home (or wherever you park your vehicle) can make all the difference to maximize its security.
People who park their cars and vans on a driveway get cheaper quotes for a reason: there is less chance of theft! So, park your work van on the driveway to reduce the risk and install CCTV to ensure that (even if the worst happens) you will be able to receive compensation from the insurance company quickly. It will also make it easier for law enforcement to track down your vehicle. If you don’t have a driveway, then consider parking your sliding or rear doors as near to a wall as possible, since this will make it difficult for thieves to open the doors and get the tools inside.
3. Check your insurance
Most insurance companies are particular about the events which they will and will not pay out for, so make sure that you scrutinize your policy wording to ensure that you are not inadvertently doing something that will prevent you from receiving compensation. It’s reported that criminals frequently target vans, not to steal the vehicle but to swipe the tools inside. So, precautions must be taken to minimize this possibility.
If you do keep your tools in your van overnight, it is especially important to make sure that they are covered by insurance. It is helpful to take an inventory of your collection every so often, and this can quickly be done by taking a photograph of the inside of your van.
4. Spruce up your van
Vans with no visible security measures are an easy target. So although there isn’t much you can do to prevent pre-planned, hi-tech crimes, you can deter opportunistic thievery by going the extra mile to ensure your van is as secure as possible.
If you are looking to replace your van, make your life easier by purchasing one which already comes with top-notch security features, such as a state-of-the-art alarm and immobilizer system. If you want to improve the security of your current vehicle, the most crucial issue will be making sure that you have an up-to-date alarm system in place. If not, then you will need to get it sorted out as quickly as possible! Especially as most insurers will not payout in the event of a claim if you haven’t got an adequately fitted and modern alarm system.