Reducing Commercial Vehicle Crime.

A guest post from Garth Delikan

Vans have and always will be a favourite target for theft; this is mainly due to the high value tools, equipment or stock commonly required to be carried, just to allow the operator to carry out their day to day jobs. The loss of such cargo can have a severe and in some cases fatal impact on a courier business.

The latest estimates show that 26 vans are broken into every hour in the UK. That’s 624 per day, 18,980 per month and a staggering 227,760 each year.

Leaving a vehicle un-protected “as it’s never happened to me before” is no longer an option, with these figures rising; it is only a matter of time before your vehicle is included in the next released stats.

The worst case I read about recently was about £37k of testing equipment stolen from a single vehicle.

As well as the initial loss, most do not realise the additional expenses/losses that occur due to the damage caused during a theft, including: vehicle repairs, increased premiums, loss of vehicle, loss of downtime, sorting and sourcing replacement equipment and possibly the worst of all – reputational damage.

Thankfully most vehicle crime is opportunistic and relatively easy to prevent.

Here’s a few tips and advice to help:

• Fit a “ClutchClaw” which is an effective product that addresses the threat of a vehicle being stolen. It is practically impossible to attack whilst sitting in the vehicle and in attack tests carried out using a professional car thief, it resisted for 30 mins 58 secs.

• The ClutchClaw locks the clutch and brake pedals together, thus stopping the vehicle from being driven. The new “Mark 4″ Clutch Claw uses a series of pegs located under the top box, these are adjustable along the length of the top box, once the pegs are set the device becomes “dedicated” to that vehicle, locking the two pedals together and “jamming” them against the bulkheadfloor of the vehicle.

• Quite often the standard locks fitted by the manufacturer are inadequate, so it’s worth protecting your livelihood with some additional security measures for your vehicle
• Fit reinforced slam handle kits specially designed for vans that are prone for handle attack. The Armaplate or van lock plates are common place on many commercial service company vans. It has been used with great success for the past decade and is designed to protect the existing manufacturers handle/locking system and prevent forced entry by reinforcing the immediate vulnerable area around the handle or lock, often targeted by thieves. Once installed Armaplate products require no user interaction.

• Remove the stereo or fascia if possible
• Remove any satellite navigation devices
• Leave your glove box open to show it is empty
• Close windows
• Lock all doors including sliding side doors and ear doors

Parking:

• If possible park in a garage and set the alarm even in the garage and also remember to lock the garage
• Remove all tools and keep them tools secure by locking them away in a tool chest
• If away or you don’t have a garage always try to park in a well lit open location an remove all tools.

Extra Precautions:

• Have a “Thatcham” approved alarm fitted
• Fit a tracking device to your vehicle
• Protect your tax disc with a tamper proof disc holder (available from the Post Office)
• Fit a Thatcham steering wheel immobiliser (which could also reduce your insurance premium)
• Look after your van keys and keep them out of sight even at home
• Secure expensive wheels with locking wheel nuts
• Etch your vehicle registration number VIN onto your windows
• Secure number plates with anti tamper screws or buys tamper resistant plates that break into pieces when removed
• Never store driving documents in the car
• Fit a Hope Safe-T-Bar to protect the rear of your vehicle from fork-lift loading, reversing damage and day to day knocks.

Garth

Garth Delikan is the Lifestyle Guy, he teaches personal safety and confidence to individuals and groups.

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