Van Security For Electricians: Protect Your Van From Robbery

Are you a licensed electrician? Don’t worry; we don’t have an electrical emergency, but someone else might, forcing you to rush over quickly.

When responding to electrical emergencies, the only thing on your mind is the safety of the family concerned. And, understandably, you might be careless and forget to lock the van while getting down.

After you come back, having averted a dangerous situation, elation quickly turns to despair when you find expensive equipment stolen from the van. If only you had locked the door; but, even then, would it have deterred the robbers in any way?

Today’s guide looks at the threat of van robberies for electricians and offers effective solutions to stay safe.

Hard Facts

You might feel that we are exaggerating van security, and things are not as bad as they seem. So, let’s present some facts – close to 30 vans are reportedly broken into and their contents stolen daily in the UK. The total number of stolen vans was nearly 43,000, while another 1,17,000 vans were broken into by 2016.

The UK police have reported more than 60,000 cases related to van theft since 2015, with over 23,000 incidents occurring in 2017/18 alone. Even more telling is that from 2017 to 2019, the cost of stolen equipment amounted to $83 million; and do you know how many people got their stuff back? Only a minuscule 3%!

We are sure that you’re now going to take van safety seriously, especially with crimes on the rise. But there’s no reason to panic, as we have highlighted some easy steps and tips to keep your electrician’s van safe.

Van Safety Tips

Let’s start with some basic security tips to keep your van and its valuable contents secure.

1. Windows

The first thing robbers try to do is look inside the van by peering through the windows and breaking one to get easy access. You can use covers/tints so that people can’t look inside and reinforce the window with steel grills for further security.

2. Locks

WIth robbers becoming more innovative in their methods, it’s important to stay one step ahead and keep them guessing. The steel grills on the windows will give them a nasty shock even if they manage to break the glass, so they will redirect their anger to breaking the locks.

Take no chances and install either slam locks, deadlocks, or stop locks on all doors, including the rear van entrance. For further reinforcement, you can also add protection plates to keep robbers at bay.

3. CCTV And Alarms

Whenever you’re responding to an electrical emergency, don’t forget to park the vehicle near CCTV cameras or well-lit entrances. Some electricians also park their cars right up against a wall to limit access to only one side.

Moreover, install dashboard cameras that record footage both inside and outside the van. And ask a professional installation company to equip the van with silent alarms, owing to which you will receive alerts directly on your phone during a possible break-in.

4. Steering Wheel

Many people are unaware that the steering wheel is an easy target, and there have been instances when thieves have tried to drive away with the van. The UK police recommend installing Disklok over the steering wheel to lock it.

5. Ladders

Some people are negligent and leave ladders on the roof of their vans overnight without securing them. A simple ladder clamp will prevent robbers from making off with it and eliminate the costly expenditures to replace the stolen item.

6. Tracker

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The most efficient way to prevent van theft is by installing a tracker. You can buy the best trackers available on the market and fit them into the van to keep track of it at all times. Some modern gadgets, like the New Apple AirTag, also allow you to track individual items and recover them if stolen.

Choosing The Best Security Systems

Here we have discussed some security systems, like alarms, locks, and trackers, in greater detail to help keep your van safe.

A. Van Security Alarms

1. OBD Connectors

OBD connectors (on-board diagnostics) plug into a real-time tracker called a CarLock that notifies you about any unusual activity. You need to install the app to get notifications when:

• Someone other than you starts the engine
• Vibrations are caused by power tools

Most people install it under the steering wheel, right above the knee – out of sight but suitably positioned to alert you quickly.

2. Silent Alarms

You might have seen in movies that a loud car alarm often deters thieves, who run away to avoid being caught. Real life is slightly different from reel life, and unless there’s an officer in the vicinity, a loud car alarm is the least of a robber’s worries.

That’s why the market has silent alarms to catch them red-handed. These alarms send a text or phone call to your synced device to alert you about unusual activities. 

They operate through wireless PIR technology, and you can even listen to the robbers after answering the call.

B. Van Tracker

If you operate a team of electricians, you’re likely to have a large fleet of vehicles at various places across the country. And installing a tracker will help you locate them at all times while increasing the chances of the police recovering a stolen vehicle, thanks to the availability of real-time data.

But which gadget should you choose? A highly effective option is the New Apple AirTag which comes with both near and long-distance tracking systems. Just connect it with your iPad or iPhone before attaching the tracker to any object inside the van. You will get live updates directly on your mobile phone with the Ultra Wideband technology, even highlighting the direction and distance of any lost item.

Trust us; you can’t underestimate the value of a van tracker.

C. Van Vault

It’s just like storing money in a bank vault, but instead, you keep all your electrician’s equipment in this van vault. They are built into the van design and are highly durable, even fire-resistant at times, which makes it impossible for robbers to break in.

You can choose from various sizes, and most models feature steel construction for added protection. We have also found drawers, called stackers, which you can install to existing van vaults. They have enough storage space to house all the equipment and slide right out when you reach for certain tools.

But that doesn’t mean robbers can pull the drawers out, thanks to their galvanised nickel body and anti-drilling or anti-picking cylinders.

D. Types Of Locks

We have mentioned the three most common types of locks already, so let’s look at their features.

1. Slam Locks

These locks automatically lock the door when you slam it shut, which eliminates the need to use a key. Electricians that respond to multiple calls a day and drive back and forth will benefit greatly from such locks. This is because you won’t accidentally leave the doors open or get locked out of the van.

2. Deadlocks

Deadlocks are double locks that are difficult to pry open because they don’t have a spring mechanism like regular locks. But it would help if you remembered to slam the doors shut and bolt them with a key.

3. Stop Locks

To reinforce rear and sliding doors, use stop locks as they are affordable and easy to install. The best part is that they create a tight seal with the doors, which prevents robbers from using a pry bar.

4. Protection Plates

While these are not technically locks, you can always use protection plates to cover weak locks for extra security. Placing these plates over the locks will ensure that thieves can’t drill, break, or cut through them.

They are a cost-effective investment, especially when your locks show signs of damage and visible weakness.

Additional Tips For Van Safety

We are not done yet because you can never be too safe despite installing one or more of the features mentioned above. Check out these additional tips for van security:

• Use stickers to highlight that the van is protected 
• Never leave the doors open, even for a few minutes
• For insurance, click photos of the inside of the van and all valuable equipment 
• Before leasing a van, speak to the concerned company and do a background check
• Opt for subtle advertising rather than loud branding, which may attract robbers
• Number your tools and maintain a diary
• Park in plain sight with lots of people

Conclusion

Of all the van robberies in the UK, 46% found that the robbers broke in through the side panel.

Another 23% found their windows and dashboards were smashed, while 22% had their locks picked. But after reading our guide, you will have a better idea about keeping the van safe from all sides and in every situation.

And no matter what your friends or family advise, don’t compromise and choose a cheap insurance plan. It’s better to invest in a slightly expensive insurance cover for protection against a large-scale break-in rather than crying over spilt milk.