A van is a considerable investment, whether it’s for your own personal business or one you drive for a company. Unfortunately, truck theft is big business for crooks and often expensive items are left in the back of trucks, making them an even more attractive proposition. Modern vans come with a whole host of attractive technology that make them even more of tempting target, including sat nav systems, vehicle cameras and infotainment systems. For Truck Camera Systems, visit http://www.backwatch.co.uk/products/category/cameras/ . Here are some good ways to keep your assets safe:
Garage – Thieves are more likely to steal from the street for the simple reason that it’s easier. If you can use a garage or secure lock-up then it’s less likely to become a victim of theft. If you don’t have one then it could mean renting one. Whilst not the cheapest answer, consider it an investment in the safety of your expensive vehicle and your business.
Alarm Sticker – Whether you have one or not, a big sticker saying you have an alarm could be enough to deter potential thieves. Better still, fit an alarm as flashing LED lights are really off-putting as they usually indicate an ensuing cacophony if the vehicle is interfered with.
Valuables – It might seem obvious but when we’re in a rush, it’s easy to forget to hide or remove our valuables from sight. Leaving mobile phones, watches or tablets on the passenger seat is giving an open invitation for someone to have a go at taking them. Most van owners empty their cargo space of equipment at night and this is a wise move. Imagine the nightmare of losing all your work’s tools or machinery!
Park Safe – Leaving your vehicle in a high crime area is taking a gamble. If you can, make sure you park in a safe, well-lit neighbourhood. Preferably one with a neighbourhood watch scheme, CCTV cameras and with a lower crime rate.
Removable Steering Wheel – Nobody is going to be driving off in your van if there’s no steering wheel! Quick-release hubs are great for this purpose and make your vehicle virtually 100% un-stealable. Simple works best – if they can’t drive it, they won’t take it.
Immobilisers – These work by stopping the engine from starting by cutting electrical supply. Some set automatically on locking of the van and others can be operated remotely. This is a powerful deterrent as the vehicle literally won’t go anywhere.
Deadlocks – Reinforced deadlocks or deadbolts are added steel locks which work as well as the standard locking mechanism. They offer a back-up to the existing locks and effectively make it much more difficult to gain access, if not impossible.
Van Boxes – If a criminal does make it inside your truck, they’ll be gutted to discover you’ve put everything of value in a safe box. They are steel safes that come with anti-drill locks and bolted to the interior of your van. Some are portable, meaning you can remove the safe into the house with you but those that remain in the van are almost impossible to crack.
