Keeping your vehicles safe against rising van theft

Vehicle thefts are on the rise

Whilst you may already likely have things in place to make sure that your vehicles are safe, recent data has shown that there has been a rise in light commercial vehicle (LCV) thefts. What’s more worrying is that there has been a 90% rise in keyless thefts, highlighting the importance of maintaining your vehicles safety. This is so common now as thieves are now able to access keyless vehicles without setting off an alarm.

The Ford Transit was identified as the LCV at the most risk of been stolen, followed closely by the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, but any LCV has value to potential thieves, so follow these tips to make sure that your vehicles are as safe as possible.

How you can further protect your vehicle

Add an ignition shield

Talk to your dealership about adding an ignition shield to your vehicle. The shield works through access to  the back of the dashboard and bolting a piece of metal around your vehicles ignition. This will create a strong barrier for your ignition so that thieves will find it more difficult to access and create a new code for your keyless vehicle. Talk to garages in your local area to see if this is something that they can arrange for you.

Consider adding an immobiliser

Section 8 of the 1996 Motor Vehicles (Approval) Regulations outlined that all new cars sold in the UK must have an immobiliser, so whilst it is likely that your vehicle will have an immobiliser, there are additional immobilising safety devices that you can fit.

Consider a pedal box, a simple device which encloses your accelerator, brake and clutch in a locked box to prevent a thief being able to drive whilst the box is in place.

You could also consider a digital immobiliser for your vehicles which require a short code to be entered before the ignition can start or the wheel can be used. This means that even if a thief can get into your vehicle, they won’t be able to get it going.

Add extra locks and alarms

Again, whilst it likely that you will already have an alarm, additional systems could deter a thief, or at least disrupt them.

Additional locks can also be an extra line of defence, which could even alert members of the public that something is not right with the person accessing the vehicle.

Install tracking devices

Should the worst happen, and someone make off with your vehicle, you can increase the chances of locating it, and the thieves, by installing a tracking device so that you and the Police can follow the movements of the vehicle and find where it may have ended up.

Whilst you may still have repair costs for any damage to your vehicle, you may have saved some money by not having to pay for the replacement costs, which will be substantially higher.

Commercial vehicle insurance with Premierline

Although you can take many precautions to help protect your vehicles, unfortunately if a thief wants to get in, they usually will. This is why it is important to have insurance cover that protects you, your business and your possessions.

 At Premierline, we understand that business insurance can be tricky and can take up time that you could be using to do what you love, which is why our insurance experts are trained to assess your business’ need and find the insurance policy that is perfect for your business.

Whether you require commercial vehicle insurance, contractor insurance or something bespoke, we work with some of the UK’s most well-known insurers to compare insurance quotes. Get in touch to speak with one of our insurance advisors.

Source – Zywave inc. – News Brief – Van Theft Is OnThe Rise – Here’s How To Protect Your Fleet