How to keep your van safe from theft

Your van might be your livelihood. That means losing it or having your tools stolen can be devastating.

Whether you use your van for work, commuting or just for weekend trips, here are our top tips on how to keep your van secure. 

Why are vans a common target? 

There are lots of reasons why thieves target vans to break into or steal. 

Trade tools kept in the van overnight 

If you use your van for work, you might keep your trade tools and equipment in it overnight – which can be worth a lot. 

Thieves can learn your routine, so they know where you've parked and when you've left your tools unattended. 

Converted vans are attractive to thieves 

Campervans and converted vans often hold high-value items like bikes, camping gear or fitted equipment. Built-in extras such as solar panels and mini fridges can also make them tempting targets. 

Sliding doors make break-ins easier 

Sliding doors can sometimes be bent open, which makes some vans easier to break into. That can make them more attractive to thieves looking for an easy target. 

Where can I park my van overnight to keep it safe? 

The best place to park your van is in a garage or as close to your home as you can. Here are some other parking tips for keeping your van safe at night. 

Park in well-lit areas 

Try to park in areas where there are streetlights or other bright lights. They make it harder for thieves to hide and stay undercover, so it can put them off. 

Think about your parking position 

Parking your van with the side or back doors as close to the wall makes it harder for thieves to access it.

Choose secure car parks 

If you're parking in a public car park, look for ones that are manned or monitored by CCTV cameras.

How can security devices help protect your van? 

Thieves want to be able to work quickly and quietly. Strong locks and smart alarms make that a lot harder! 

The sound of the alarm and sensors can scare thieves away, and big locks are harder and take more time to break.

What locks are the best for van security? 

There are different locks you can use to help keep your van secure and make it harder for criminals to break in. 

Deadlocks 

These are really strong locks that bolt onto your doors. You need a separate key to open the lock, making it very hard for someone to get into. 

Hook locks 

Ideal for commercial vans and couriers, hook locks are a high-security type of lock. 

The hook-shaped bolt latches on to the opposite frame, making it difficult for thieves to bend doors open and take what's inside. 

Slam locks 

These automatically lock your van's door the moment it shuts. Slam locks only open with a key. 

They're handy to use on delivery vans, where the driver is getting in and out all the time. 

Steering wheel lock 

These are heavy-duty locks that clamp onto the steering wheel to stop it from turning. 

They're good at putting thieves off because they stop anyone without a key from driving the van away.

More tips for keeping your van safe 

Here are some extra tips for keeping your van safe and putting off thieves. 

Keep your keys safe 

If you’ve parked your van outside, keep your keys away from the front door and in a secure spot. This makes it harder for thieves to unlock it using signal scanners – and harder to find if someone breaks in.

Don't leave valuables in your van overnight 

Remove any valuables from your van when you're not driving it. It can be a pain taking your tools in and out all the time, but it's not worth the risk leaving them overnight for someone to steal. 

Add signs to your van 

You could put up signs to warn thieves off. For example, you could display a 'no tools left overnight' sign, to let them know there's nothing to steal. 

Or you could show a sign that says your van has an alarm to stop anyone from trying to get in. 

What to do if your van is stolen 

We know it’s really stressful when someone steals your van. If yours has been stolen, we want you to know we're by your side. 

To help you, here are the steps to follow: 

Call the police 

Phone the police or report it at the station straight away to explain what’s happened. Make sure you note down the crime reference number they give you. 

Tell your insurer 

If you have van insurance with us, we'll need to know: 

• your vehicle details 
• the crime reference number 
• details of any tools, equipment and belongings inside 

We'll talk you through the process of what happens next and if you need to make a claim. 

Let the DVLA know 

You don't need to contact the DVLA straight away when your van is stolen. The police will let them know after you've reported the crime. 

You only need to contact the DVLA if your insurer pays out for your van. This is so they can update the logbook (V5C) to show you no longer own it. 

Get more advice 

Whether you're buying a new van or want to know more about keeping it safe, we have some more van driving advice and tips.