Improving your van’s security: a guide

How to boost your van’s security

Drivers who rely on their vans for work often worry about the impact of lost revenue if their van or the equipment stored inside is stolen. And with good reason – research from Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles reveals that in 2023:

• One in five (19%) of van drivers fell victim to theft.

• The average value of gear stolen was more than £1,700 per van, resulting in a £1.64 million hit to UK businesses in lost equipment.

• 41% of tradespeople continue to leave their tools in their vans overnight, with 37% admitting to leaving tools with a value of more than £2,000.

• More than half of the tradespeople surveyed (57%) said they were unable to work while their vans were repaired and re-stocked following a break-in.

The impact of van theft isn’t just disruptive to business. An insurance claim could potentially mean higher premiums in the future too.  

The good news is there are things you can do to improve your vehicle’s security.  

Some of these will cost you nothing, while others may require a little investment. But upgrading your van’s security now, could save you time, money and stress in the long run. And it might even help you save on your van insurance.

Here are some simple measures you can take to make your van less of a target for thieves.

Park your van in a secure place

Parking safely is one of the simplest things you can do to protect your van from thieves. A locked garage, secured parking area or Park Mark accredited car park is probably safest.

If that’s not possible, choose a well-lit, busy street with CCTV. Only the most audacious thieves will try to steal a van in full view of passers-by and security cameras.

If you can park in a private driveway, consider getting a motion-detecting security light and maybe even a home security camera. The latest systems can connect to your home WiFi and stream images to your mobile or laptop if the motion sensor is activated.

Insurance providers will also consider where you park overnight when they calculate your insurance premium.

Protect your valuables

If you use your van for work, it’s not always feasible to remove all your tools at the end of every day. To protect any expensive tools and equipment you want to leave in your van overnight, you could:

• Install a lockable toolbox or tool vault to add an extra layer of security 

• Fit extra alarms to the rear doors that will go off if someone manages to open them and get inside  

• Mark high-value items with a UV pen so that they’re easily identifiable as yours if recovered by the police. 

If you are going to store your equipment in your van overnight, you may need to add extra cover to your van insurance policy to make sure your tools are covered. You should also keep a detailed, up-to-date list and photos of all the equipment you store in your van.

Keep track of your keys

It may sound obvious but always lock your van and never leave your keys unattended, even for a quick delivery.

If your van has a keyless entry or keyless start feature, you may also need to protect yourself from relay theft. This is when a thief uses an electronic device to communicate with your keyfob, enabling them to unlock and even start the van.

To avoid relay theft, you should always store your key away from doors and windows when you’re at home, and consider buying a signal blocking pouch to store your key in.

Also called Faraday bags, these pouches are lined with metallic material that prevents the signal from being transmitted. They’re an easy and inexpensive protection against keyless vehicle theft.

Prevent smash and grab van theft

Avoid advertising the contents of your vehicle to potential thieves. Keep your mobile phone or other valuables with you when your vehicle’s parked and don’t leave tools or equipment in view.

An inexpensive way to prevent someone getting access to your van through a window is installing window protection film on the inside and outside. It’ll keep the glass in place even if it’s smashed.

Upgrade your locks

Standard manufactured locks are vulnerable because they’re common. Because of this lockpicking tools are easily available.

Here are a few options to beef up your locks, adding an extra layer of security to your van doors:

• Deadlocks can be fitted between the van door and the connecting panel of the van’s body. They’re hard to pick because they have no spring mechanism, and they can only be opened using a key. They’re a useful defence against keyless theft too.  

• Slam locks are useful for van delivery drivers. You don’t need to use the key to lock them, you simply slam the door shut. This could be ideal when you’ve got an armful of packages. Just don’t forget to take your keys with you before slamming the door. 

• Steel plates can be fitted to the original locking mechanism on the door to prevent potential thieves from drilling the lock.

However you choose to upgrade your locks, we recommend getting professional help for fitting and installation to make sure everything works as it should.

Use traditional security devices

They may not look very sleek or modern, but old-school security devices are still an effective deterrent to would-be van thieves. Consider investing in one or more of the following:

• A steering wheel lock

• Van pedal locks

• Gearstick and handbrake locks

• Wheel clamp locks

When you’re shopping for security devices, look for locks from trusted brands and check that they’re approved by Thatcham, the motor insurance industry body. And get in the habit of putting them on every time you park your van so you’re never caught off guard.

Upgrade your van’s alarms and immobilisers

It’s likely you’ll have an alarm and an immobiliser fitted as part of your van’s factory settings. But you may want to consider upgrading to a more sophisticated system. It’s not just about having a loud and scary alarm siren – some modern alarm systems can also work with your mobile to alert you, wherever you are.

Meanwhile, a decent immobiliser can prevent a thief from getting the van to start if they do manage to get inside. Some modern immobilisers work with your van electronics and will only start when the correct series of buttons are pressed.

There are plenty of options out there for different budgets and needs, so it’s well worth doing a bit of browsing to find the best option for you and your van.

When shopping for security devices, check they’re approved by Thatcham Research, the motor insurance industry body. This means a device has been designed and tested to comply with UK insurance providers’ requirements.

In some cases, having a Thatcham-approved security system could reduce the cost of your van insurance premiums.

Install a tracking system

It won’t stop your van from being stolen, but a GPS-based tracking system could help the police recover your van more quickly if it goes missing. It could also help to reduce your van insurance premium.

They’re not as expensive as you may think – a GPS tracker for a van can cost from as little as £20, although you may need to pay a subscription fee.

Some modern vans come with built-in GPS and an app you can use to track your van. All you’ll need to do is get it set up.

Protect your catalytic converter

Catalytic converters contain precious metals that make them a high-value target for criminals. And as it’s on the outside of the vehicle, thieves just need to jack up your van and slice through the exhaust to remove it.

The simplest way to protect your van’s catalytic converter is to make sure the van is parked in a secure location. If that’s not an option, consider fitting a Sold Secure-accredited ‘cat loc’ or clamp. You can also fit alarms that sound if your vehicle is being jacked up.

Compare van insurance

There’s no way to guarantee your van will be safe at all times. But a few sensible precautions and the right van insurance could help keep your van and business running smoothly.