Van Slam Locks And Other Ways To Protect Your Business
The unfortunate truth about the world that we live in is that people are happy to steal from businesses. As a business owner, you need to ensure that your property is protected. When it comes to protecting your business van, you need to think like a thief.
The truth about van theft
There are over 4 million vans on the road in the UK alone, and after the events of COVID, the demand for drivers went up massively as the country tried to stand on its feet. This rise in vans has caused a new wave of crime with people targeting vans in the hope of getting access to the goods or tools that have been left inside. Small business owners are the most likely to be affected by this as they often keep their vans parked in their driveways at night.
Keeping your van safe
When you buy a van, there is a good chance that the factory security is not enough to prevent thieves from targeting your van and you may need to add some extra security. However, adding a lot of extra security to your van can be costly. One of the most efficient and cheapest ways to protect your van and its contents is with a slam lock.
How do slam locks work?
The panel door on the side of your van is the prime place for thieves to attack because it is often the door that people forget to lock. If you are working at a property and close the side door, it does not lock automatically. Thieves know this and will be happy to wait around for an opportunity to test the door and see if it is unlocked. Using a slam lock means that the door will lock every time you shut it.
The Ford Transit and break-ins
Despite being one of the most popular vans on the market, the Ford Transit is also one of the easiest to break into. One of the easiest ways to get into a Ford Transit is by applying pressure to the side panel so the lock pops out. Yes, that's right, the standard lock on a Ford Transit doesn’t even stay locked and can be bypassed. This is why having a slam lock on a Transit is important as it is a great way to prevent thieves getting access to the van and the contents.
What is the best approach to protecting your van?
Preventing your van from being broken into or stolen can take a variety of steps. These include-
- Lock the doors and shut the windows when you are not using your van.
- Do not leave anything inside. You might know that the file sitting on the seat doesn;t have anything of value in it but a thief won’t. Whatever is inside your van could potentially have value and they won’t discover otherwise until they have broken in and caused damage to your van.
- Remove your tools from the van and store them somewhere else such as a locked storage building.
- If you can, store your van inside a garage. Getting inside a garage or workshop is a lot more difficult than breaking into a van, and it is possible to have a better security system in place in a workshop.
- If you cannot remove tools or store the van in a storage area, make sure that you have good quality locks fitted, not just the factory standard.
- Park your van against a wall or hedge to make it more difficult for people to get access to it.
- If you use tools, engrave them with your postcode and house number to prevent them from being resold. They will be easier to track if they are stolen. However, having these details on your tools is enough to prevent them from being stolen as it can be harder for thieves to sell them on with idefiting markings.
- Fit additional locks such as slam locks to the doors of your van.
- When you are not using your van, use a steering lock, wheel clamp, and an alarm.
- Fit a tracking system to track your van. You may need to invest in a system that uses dual band tracking as van thieves tend to use a blocking device to prevent their motions from being tracked.
- Encase the pedals with a guard box so the van cannot be driven when not in use.
- Fit an OBD, an on board diagnostic device which can prevent additional keys from being coded.
Taking the necessary steps
When it comes to van security, you will need to take many steps to ensure that your van doesn’t become another statistic in a police crime base. Taking the steps above can ensure that your van is not likely to be targeted. The simple fact is, thieves look for an easy target. If you make it hard for them, they are not as likely to try anything. However, if they believe that your van is a treasure trove of goodies, professional thieves will do what they can to get access to the van and the contents. Gangs have been known to use tools to get into vans with exceptional precision.
If you are concerned about the safety of your van, you should speak to your local police department as they can advise you about the latest crime figures and give independent advice about how to protect your van. However, it is possible to get a security check carried out on your home and vehicle to ensure that you are doing everything that you can to protect yourself. If you do feel that you need additional locking, such as the slam locks, it is possible to have these fitted quickly and at your convenience. Most lock types can be fitted quickly and at a time to suit you. So you can get back to work, safe in the knowledge that your van and its contents are safer than ever.
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