If you are a courier driver then it is quite likely that you use a van to make your deliveries in. Let us hope that you are never faced with having your van stolen but how likely is this to happen and has the number of van thefts risen in the last few years?

Well, the price comparison website Gocompare.com has obtained some interesting figures relating to things like the number of vans stolen here in the UK. For instance, in 2019, 4.36 vans were stolen here in the UK for every 1,000 vans registered. By 2022, that figure had risen to 4.55 vans stolen in the UK for every 1,000 vans registered. Yes, it is a small rise but nevertheless it is still concerning to see that the theft of vans has gone up.

Whilst it is unlikely that your van will be stolen there is of course no guarantee that you will not find yourself in this situation in the coming years. It is important that you take as many precautions as possible to reduce the possibility of your van being stolen.

For instance, be careful where you park your van overnight. It is unlikely you will be in the fortunate position to be able to leave it in a locked garage during the night. At very least, try to park it on your drive overnight and make sure it is lit up. If you have to leave it in the road near your home endeavor to park it under a streetlight. Make sure that you have it fitted with an alarm to hopefully put off a thief. An engine immobilizer and tracking device could be beneficial. How about a steering lock being attached as this is a potentially visible deterrent to the would be thief.

When you are making your deliveries you really should avoid leaving your van with the engine running whilst you drop off a parcel at someone’s home or business premises. Ideally, lock the doors whilst delivering parcels. Yes, this may appear time consuming but surely that is better than having your van stolen putting you out of operation for a period of time resulting in a reduced income.