The ‘White Van Man‘ tag does not always strike up the most endearing of images with the UK public. Not helped by television coverage that did little to enhance an image that was questionably deserved, it can sometimes be hard to feel pity for them when they are the victims of crime. However, with the spate of robberies aimed at vans and their continuing increase, their fault hardly lies at the feet of one individual driver who was once cut-up and who’s now going around the country exacting revenge on light commercial vehicle drivers, acting as vigilante in the name of the public at large.
It is not just organised gangs, however, who are discovering more ingenious ways than ever to jeopardise the van drivers’ livelihood and ongoing cheap van insurance through earned no claims bonuses. Police are warning van drivers everywhere to ensure their vehicle is locked up as securely as possible and that, wherever possible tools are removed from the backs of vans when they are not in use. That even extends to taking five out at the motorway service station.
In a recent report it has been detailed that van drivers are doing all they can to protect themselves through any incidents that could occur on the road, with 70% renewing their fully comp van insurance policies, despite how tempting it must be to cut costs by downgrading to third party, fire and theft to even third party only. However, even this continued level of cover for accidental damage does not necessarily cover expensive tools that may be critical for a tradesmen to carry out his work. It is recommended for all tradesmen for whom it is essential to transport their tools to site to take out extra tool cover as an ancillary to their van insurance ; for the extra amount, it can pay for itself several times over.
In the recent police report issue on the status of opportunist thieves taking advantage of unsecured vans, they have highlighted two Citroen models, the Relay and the Berlingo alongside the ever-popular Ford Transit as the most popular targets for this type of off-the-cuff crime. The tools being identified as popular are, as you’d expect, hand tools that are relatively light and easy to make off with for those looking to top up their benefits with the odd twenty or thirty quid as they become the man everyone meets down the pub.
Along with the headache of replacing tools, time lost at work and perhaps damage to your reputation, forced entry can often leave telltale signs of entry on the van, its doors and its locks, which means more off-road time as the vehicle is repaired. Steering locks, immobilisers and trackers are often enough to put off the opportunist crook, as well as helping you achieve cheaper van insurance when you declare that you have these fitted when applying for your van insurance cover.