🕒 Article read time: 2 minutes
More than one in four respondents have had equipment stolen from vans, manufacturer’s survey reveals
Van drivers across the UK are being targeted by thieves on the hunt for expensive tools, with research revealing over a quarter (27%) have had equipment stolen from vans in the last 12 months.
A study by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles found more than half of van drivers (57%) who own tools are at risk, as they regularly leave gear in vans overnight. Yet almost one in three (31%) are not protecting their expensive equipment with extra alarms, secondary locks, or vehicle trackers.
London is the hotspot for tool theft with 55% of tradespeople having equipment stolen in the past year, followed by the West Midlands (33%), North East (28%), North West (25%), and East Anglia (23%).
An average of 20,000 individual cases are reported to police forces across the UK each year, with the estimated cost of replacement tools and equipment standing at £15 million a year.
The cost of tool theft to businesses is more than just replacement equipment, too, with tradespeople often unable to work while vans are re-stocked and locks repaired. Downtime costs companies an estimated £550 a day per van.
David Hanna, Head of Sales Operations at Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, said: “Tool theft is a massive problem for tradespeople with thieves targeting vans parked up overnight across the country. It not only costs van drivers millions in buying new kit, but also impacts their ability to do their jobs, further impacting their finances. We’re urging people who own expensive equipment to take extra precautions to deter would-be thieves, whether that’s removing items overnight, adding extra security measures, or avoiding parking in unlit, secluded areas.”
Denise Beedell, Public Policy Manager, Logistics UK, said: “This survey from Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles underlines the importance of van security and minimising the risk of potentially costly vehicle thefts.
“In August 2020, Logistics UK’s Van Policy Working Group raised vehicle security as a significant issue for van operators and launched a survey to hear from users about the impacts of van crime and identify potential measures that could be taken.
“Van-related crime can have many impacts on a business, including increased operational costs and reputational damage, as well as staff and customer retention difficulties, and we continue to urge our members to prioritise van security and take the necessary precautions.”
*www.logistics.org.uk/van
Published On: 14/10/2021 16:00:27
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