42 | JUNE 2019
Motoring
Read online at www.proinstaller.co.uk
EIGHT TIPS TO PROTECT
TOOLS
TOOLS IN VANS NO LEFT
IN
Tradespeople have been urged to fit their vans with CCTV and a
safe to protect valuable tools and equipment from pesky thieves.
From deadlocks and CCTV to
deliberately parking badly and
dirty vehicles, the specialist advice
could help deter thefts and catch
those responsible when a crime is
committed.
Tim Alcock of www.leasevan.
co.uk said: “Wherever possible,
it’s advisable to move expensive
tools and equipment indoors for
secure storage. But sometimes
location and circumstances mean
tradespeople have no other option
than to leave items in their vans
while they’re parked up on a job or
overnight.
“While of course thieves remain
responsible when items are stole,
wise tradesmen and women should
do whatever they can to avoid be-
coming a target or victim of crime.
To help deter criminals and make
a theft less likely to occur or be
successful, we’ve identified some
precautionary steps van owners
could take.”
1. Intruder alarms
Many Brits nowadays find stand-
ard vehicle alarms annoying and
will be tempted to ignore them, so
it’s worth considering installing a
separate intruder alarm to discour-
age possible thieves. Guard valua-
ble good by fitting a coded device
that will trigger when your van is
accessed by someone who doesn’t
have permission. Some alarms
available online can be controlled
remotely, synced with your mobile
phone and even include a tracker.
2. Tool vault boxes
To give valuable tools and equip-
ment an added layer of security,
purchase a van vault box or safe
to store them in. Requiring a key
or combination to open, the range
of high security options work in
a similar way to a personal home
safe, but often with tailored com-
partments for specific tools too.
THIS VAN
OVERNIGHT
6. Dyes
Dye tags like those used in
clothing retail are the best way to
catch thieves literally red hand-
ed, as a burst of ink triggered by
opening or moving a tool box
without permission leaves little
doubt who the criminal is and
could deter them from trying to
make off with your goods.
Concealed packs of dye, used
by many banks within stacks of
notes, could also be hidden within
expensive equipment. They’re
armed by magnets and triggered
by radio waves on a timer.
7. Inaccessible parking
When there are tools and equip-
ment in your commercial vehicle,
reverse it into a parking space
where the rear doors are practical-
ly touching a wall or other obsta-
cle. If a potential thief can’t easily
access your van and its contents,
they’re more likely to be discour-
aged and move along.
Sometimes tradespeople have no other
option than to leave items in their vans
8. Simple dissuasion
4. CCTV
3. Deadlocks
Deadlocks can give vans en-
hanced defences against thieves
by adding an extra and usually
stronger locking point to cab and
rear doors. They are operated
independently to a vehicle’s stand-
ard, factory fitted locks, which
allows the driver to control when
each door is unlocked individu-
ally.
Most businesses will protect
their premises with CCTV cameras
that can help both deter and cap-
ture potential criminals, so why
not their commercial vehicles too?
Small, high quality devices can
now be brought relatively cheaply
online and one should be installed
on both the inside and outside of
vans, either permanently or tem-
porarily while parked. Remember
to display a clear warning sign
too – this could make a thief turn
away before the cameras are even
called in to action.
5. Permanent tool
marking
Invisible anti-theft marking on
your tools and equipment that re-
quires ultra-violet light make them
much easier to trace and their
ownership indisputable, should
they be stolen. Tradespeople could
also choose to use clear and obvi-
ous tool markings, such as carving
or laser-burning a name or logo
into handles, to put off thieves
before items are taken.
A basic sticker on the outside
of a van declaring that no tools
are stored in the vehicle may be
enough to convince a criminal
to try elsewhere. Even if it’s not
true, it’s cheap, quick and worth
a go. Keeping the outside of your
commercial vehicle in an unusual-
ly dirty condition when equipment
must be stored inside could also
put off thieves, by making the van
seem to the outside world like
it’s less valuable and unlikely to
contain important items.
www.leasevan.co.uk