AUTO LOCKSMITHS
Alarming numbers of neglectful van drivers admit lapse in vehicle security
» AN ALARMING NUMBER OF UK VAN drivers are neglecting to take the security of their vehicle and its contents seriously , a new study has found , as over three in four ( 77 %) confess they don ’ t have an alarm or immobiliser installed within their vehicle . A further 45 % fail to lock their van when it ’ s not in use .
The research , conducted by the experts at 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 . Three quarters ( 76 %) of those surveyed said they knowingly leave themselves at risk by not taking sufficient care to protect their property and deter thieves .
According to the findings , a staggering 64 % admitted they fail to remove their tools and other valuable items from their van when it ’ s not being driven , despite the role these items play in their livelihood .
Almost all of the UK van drivers surveyed ( 95 %) are yet to secure the catalytic converter on their vehicle too , despite thefts of this part increasing significantly since the first Covid-19 lockdown began in March 2022 ¹.
Leaving themselves open to further vulnerability , a substantial eight in ten ( 81 %) UK van drivers also 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 .
Furthermore , just a quarter ( 24 %) ensure they park their van somewhere extra secure at night and j just three in ten ( 31 %) have a dashcam fitted for when they ’ re out on the road .
When quizzed about previous break-ins and theft experiences , a secured compound or workplace car park , a locked garage at home , or the van owner ’ s driveway were found to be hotspots ( 32 % combined ), despite appearing to be some of the most secure options .
According to the study , the most likely times for van related crime to take place is between 4am and 8 am ( 22 %), or between midday and 4pm ( 21 %). iCompario also sent out FOI requests to police forces across the country to find out how many vans were stolen or broken into between 2018-2022 .
Of the 21 police authorities that responded to the request for information , Leicestershire was the UK ’ s number one van break-in or theft hotspot , with 10,494 crimes recorded between 2018 and 2022 . Comparatively , the Welsh counties of Carmarthenshire , Ceredigion , Pembrokeshire , and Powys have seen the lowest numbers of van crimes , with just 50 recorded since 2018 .
The Ford Transit is the van most targeted make and model by thieves across the whole of the country , according to the FOI findings .
In Hertfordshire alone 4,685 were targeted between 2018 and 2022 , whilst in the number one area for reported van thefts and break-ins , Leicestershire , a total of 1,874 Ford Transit ’ s were targeted .
Other van makes and models that have proven most popular with thieves include the Mercedes Sprinter , Vauxhall Vivaro , and the Citroen Berlingo .
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 %).
However , when looking at percentages , overall , Cumbria police force are leading the way having recovered a fifth ( 20 %) of the vans or their contents that had previously been stolen in their area .
On the opposite end of the table , Sussex Police have the lowest recovery rate - just 3 % ( 46 ) of the vans or contents stolen here between 2018 and 2022 were returned to their owners .
Sources & methodology
• A survey of 1,000 UK van owners / drivers , correct as of June 2022
• FOI data received from 21 police authorities across the UK ( 49 were submitted ) in June 2022
• FOI data was compared for van related crimes that occurred between 2018 – 2022
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