Wave of van break-ins hits Kent area. How to keep your van safe

Police in Kent are informing van owners to be aware of a series of break-ins, as much as up to 10 vans are being broken into a night in the Herne Bay area. The thieves are targeting valuables that may be left inside the vehicles such as tools and electronic devices. Going even so far as to steal items from vans parked in the owners home drive way. And if that isn't shocking enough, one was even burgled parked on the same street as a police station. You can read the story posted in the this is Kent news website here.

Sadly, Kent isn't the only county that has seen this rise of van crime. Another area of concern for some van owners is the wave of catalytic converter thefts due to the rising price of metal in recent years. I have read many an article where police in several counties have also put out warnings to van owners to be vigilant in securing not only the contents inside the van, but also the parts on the outside that thieves may target. With a new catalytic converter costing over £100 easy and the cost of tools plus any technology/products making up a mobile office in your van, it's worth taking a moment to make sure you have done everything you can to secure your vehicle and its contents. It can be all too easy to think that it won’t happen to you, but it does happen to many van owners and the old adage of better being safe than sorry would apply here.

How can you keep your van safe from such a threat? I have found a few good tips on how to do so. I have listed some additional suggestions aside from the basic safety tips you already know, such as; don't leave the van unlocked or the keys inside, don't leave it in an unsecured area, don't leave any windows down if unattended, and of course remove completely or hide valuables from sight. Keep in mind that these tips are not an exhaustive list nor a fool proof guarantee that your van won’t be broken in to, but they can lower the chance of a thief being tempted to burgle your van.

• Park in well-lit areas


• Purchase the best vehicle security system you can afford with an alarm and immobiliser


• Engrave a unique mark or your plate number on the converter to make it traceable. This can act as a theft deterrent and help with local police investigations


• Have the converter secured to the vehicle’s frame with a couple of pieces of hardened steel welded to the frame.


• Consider both internal and external door locks


• Affix stickers such as ‘Vehicle left empty overnight’ and ‘No power tools are kept in this vehicle overnight" to the van


• Consider adding window grilles used in preventing thieves entering from the rear or bulkheads placed between the driver and the load of the vehicle to prevent thieves climbing over the seats and accessing your cargo


• If the van itself is at risk of being stolen, perhaps installing a car tracking system would be good way to quickly locate your vehicle