You may have seen media reports about a recent spate of thefts from vans in the Rushcliffe area, apparently including vehicles on Wilford Road and The Green in Ruddington. Most of the incidents have occurred overnight, with the thieves aiming to steal tools and other equipment left in the vans.
Unfortunately, many van insurance policies don’t cover tools left in the vehicle overnight – so if your van is broken into, you could end up having to replace everything at your own cost. On the other hand, it’s not always practical to take everything out of the van at the end of every working day, especially if you don’t have much storage space at home.
However, you can still take steps to protect your tools if you do need to leave them in your vehicle overnight. One of these is to invest in a vehicle toolbox such as a Van Vault, which offers secure, lockable storage for your tools. It might cost a couple of hundred pounds to buy and install – but that’s probably a lot less than you’d pay to replace your tools.
Of course, your van could still get broken into even if you empty it every night. Consider displaying a sign stating that no tools are left in the vehicle overnight, which might deter less persistent thieves. You could also protect your van by installing a CCTV system that covers your driveway or other area where your van is parked – just take care that your cameras don’t point at anyone else’s property when you install them.
Like to know more?
Ask your insurance company for further information and advice on how to protect your van and potentially reduce your premiums.
Faye Stenson