Over 77% of van drivers admit they don’t have an alarm or immobiliser installed within their vehicle and a further 45% fail to lock their van when it’s not in use, a new study has found.
The research, conducted by iCompario, surveyed 1,000 UK van drivers who use their vehicle for work purposes about the actions they take to secure both their vehicle and contents when not in use.
Lack of precautions
According to the findings, 64% admitted they fail to remove their tools and other valuable items from their van when it’s not being driven.
Furthermore, 95% said they are yet to secure the catalytic converter on their vehicle too, despite thefts of this part increasing significantly since the first lockdown began in March 2022.
Eighty-one percent of UK van drivers said they don’t park their van in a way that could stop a thief from being able to open or break the lock such as parking against a wall, with just 24% ensuring they park their van somewhere extra secure at night.
When asked about previous break-ins and theft experiences, a secured compound or workplace car park, a locked garage at home, or the van owner’s driveways were found to be hotspots (32% combined), despite appearing to be some of the most secure options.
Number of vans stolen
Leicestershire was found to be the UK’s number one van break-in or theft hotspot, with 10,494 crimes recorded between 2018-2022, according to a police response to a FOI request.
Other areas of the UK that have experienced high numbers of van related crimes included Hertfordshire (9,740), Avon and Somerset (6,832), Surrey (5,145), and South Wales (3,919).
Comparatively, the Welsh counties of Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire, and Powys have seen the lowest numbers of van crimes, with just 50 recorded since 2018.
Of all areas compared as part of this study, Leicestershire also boasted the highest number of vans or items that had been stolen from vans that were later recovered 463 (4.4%). Meanwhile, Cumbria police force had recovered 20% of the vans or their contents which had be stolen in their area.
In contrast, Sussex Police have the lowest recovery rate, with just 3% of the vans or contents stolen here between 2018 and 2022 returned to their owners.
Avoiding mistakes
Kerry Fawcett, digital director at iCompario, said: “As experts in van insurance, whether using your vehicle for work or leisure, we recommend taking plenty of precautions to protect your vehicle. By failing to do so, you risk not only leaving yourself open potential thieves, but you may also invalidate your insurance when having to make a claim.
“Much like the regular vehicle maintenance checks that should be made like topping up your oil or checking your tyre pressure, making the time each day to ensure you van is parked safely and securely when not in use should be at the forefront of every van driver’s mind.”
>>Read more about tackling van theft here.
