If you work out of a van, you are always on a thief’s shopping list. The good news is you can make yourself a terrible target. Start with the free fixes, then add the right kit. What follows is a no-nonsense list of what actually slows thieves down in the real world, with sources you can check for yourself.
Start with the free wins
1) Empty the van at night. Boring, yes. Effective, absolutely. Police guidance is clear. If you must leave tools in a van, mark them and keep them out of sight, but the safest option is to remove them overnight. The Met spells it out in plain English. (Met Police, Opendoor Homes)
2) Park like a pro. Back the rear or side door up to a wall, hedge, or sturdy railings so doors cannot be levered. Choose busy, well-lit spots. Police and council teams repeat this advice because it still works. (Facebook)
3) Use visible warnings. A simple “no tools left in this van overnight” sign reduces opportunist attempts. Selecta Dna and police guidance recommend clear signage as part of a layered approach. (selectadna.co.uk)
4) Stop broadcasting your location. Turn off geo-tagging on social posts and job updates. Do not post a van full of shiny kit with your business name and today’s site address. Common sense, big payoff.
5) Keep a tool register. Photograph every tool, record serial numbers, and keep receipts. You will speed up insurance claims and give police something to work with. Which? Trusted Traders, training providers, and police all push this habit. (Which? Trusted Traders, Tradeskills4u)
6) Use a Faraday pouch for keyless fobs. Relay theft is quick and quiet. Store keys in a signal-blocking pouch at home and in the site office. This is standard police advice. (Police.uk, West Midlands Police, warwickshire.police.uk)
7) Make tools harder to sell. Mark your kit with a forensic code or UV, engrave your details, and register it. The National Business Crime Centre has a national tool-marking push. (nbcc.police.uk)
Spend a little to save a lot
Think layers. One lock slows them. Three locks and a cage ruin their night.
8) Add proper door security.
Fit hook-type deadlocks or slam locks on side and rear doors. Add anti-peel kits that stop the “peel and steal” attack on side doors. Locks 4 Vans quote huge strength gains after fitting. (Van Reviewer)
9) Reinforce weak spots with plates and guards.
Armaplate-style door plates cover and strengthen factory lock areas that thieves target with picks and screwdrivers. Plenty of UK fitters supply and install these. (ED-LOCK)
10) Install a steering wheel lock.
A big, visible device is a headache for thieves and buys you minutes. Look for Sold Secure or Secured By Design accreditation. Disklok’s Gold edition is a common choice with third-party approvals. (soldsecure.com, disklok.com)
11) Block the OBD port.
Modern van theft often starts at the diagnostic socket. An OBD guard stops thieves programming new keys via the port. Choose devices with Thatcham or Sold Secure approval, such as Locks 4 Vans OBD Guard or Maple’s OBD Port Lock Protector. (locks4vans.co.uk, soldsecure.com, Maple Fleet Services)
12) Secure tools inside the van.
A steel tool vault bolted through the floor means they still need time even if they get inside. Van Vault units have Secured By Design and Sold Secure certification. (Safe.co.uk, Van Vault, Secured by Design)
13) Fit internal security gates.
Cages behind the doors mean a thief who pops a lock still hits a wall of steel. Mundy Van Security’s internal gates are purpose-built and independently accredited by Sold Secure. They are becoming a go-to for firms repeatedly hit by thieves. (Secured by Design, soldsecure.com)
14) Alarm it and track it.
A loud siren still scares off a lot of crooks. Add a van tracker if the budget allows. Many insurers like to see this.
Mark, track, and prove ownership
15) Forensic marking deters and helps recovery.
Selecta Dna kits mark up to 50 tools with a unique code linked to your details. Police recognise it, and it is classed as a “police preferred” solution. Use window stickers to advertise it. (selectadna.co.uk, selectadna.com, Essex Police)
16) Smart tool tracking is not just for big firms.
Milwaukee’s One Key and DeWalt’s Tool Connect add Bluetooth tagging and fleet registers that help you locate kit, mark items “missing,” and prove ownership. A simple tag on site boxes and high-value tools is cheap insurance. (uk.milwaukeetool.eu, DEWALT)
17) Register serials with the brand and keep proof.
Many brands let you log tools for extended warranty, which doubles as proof if police recover stolen kit.
Daily habits that frustrate thieves
18) Control the load bay.
Keep kit covered. Use bulkheads, curtains, or a simple throwing sheet. If they cannot see it, they are less likely to try. Which? and others highlight concealment as a basic deterrent. (Which? Trusted Traders)
19) Lock it every time.
Popping in for a minute is all a thief needs. Door open, bag gone, job cancelled. Treat your fob like cash.
20) Do not leave batteries on show.
Loose batteries and chargers are quick money for thieves. Store them in a locked box when off site.
21) Rotate parking spots.
If you park in the same dark corner every night, word gets around. Mix it up.
22) Team up.
On multi-van sites, agree a last-man lock-up and a first-in check. Thieves prefer a quiet van on a quiet street.
What to ask a fitter before you spend
23) Ask about independent testing.
Look for Sold Secure ratings and Secured By Design approvals. These are independent tests, not marketing fluff. (soldsecure.com, Safe.co.uk)
24) Check compatibility and reinforcement.
A good installer will reinforce behind the lock, not just bolt on a shiny cylinder. Ask how they address known weak points on your van model.
25) Confirm warranty and keys.
Make sure you get spare keys, documented serials, and clear aftercare.
A quick layering plan you can copy
- Free today: Faraday pouch for keys, tool photos and serials, updated parking habits, “no tools left” signage. (Police.uk, Met Police)
- Under £300: Steering wheel lock, UV or forensic marking, basic van alarm. (soldsecure.com, selectadna.co.uk)
- Under £1,000: Hook deadlocks, anti-peel kit, a bolted-down tool vault. (locks4vans.co.uk, Van Vault)
- Belt and braces: OBD guard, internal gates, smart tool tracking. (locks4vans.co.uk, soldsecure.com, uk.milwaukeetool.eu)
You do not need everything on day one. Each layer takes minutes from the thief and gives those minutes back to you.
Why bother when “they will get in anyway”
Because time is the enemy of thieves. Peel a door, hit a gate, face a vault, and set off an alarm, all while your keys are in a Faraday pouch and your tools are marked with forensic code. Your van is no longer the easy option. That is the whole point. Direct Line’s research shows thieves are winning far too often, but layered security changes the odds. (DLG Corporate Corporate Website)
Useful sources to check and share
- Met Police advice on van and vehicle security. (Met Police)
- Secured By Design guidance on vans and tool theft. (Secured by Design)
- Selecta Dna tool-theft prevention and marking kits. (selectadna.co.uk)
- Direct Line statistics on UK tool theft. (DLG Corporate Corporate Website)
- Van vaults with police-preferred and Sold Secure accreditation. (Van Vault, Safe.co.uk)
- Mundy van security internal gates, Sold Secure accredited. (Secured by Design, soldsecure.com)
- Locks 4 Vans anti-peel kits and OBD guards. (locks4vans.co.uk, locks4vans.co.uk)
- Armaplate door plate protection. (ED-LOCK)
- Milwaukee One Key and DeWalt Tool Connect tracking. (uk.milwaukeetool.eu, DEWALT)
Final word
You cannot make a van unstealable, but you can make yours a complete hassle. Free habits today, solid hardware tomorrow, and clear proof of ownership across your kit. That is how you keep working while thieves move on to softer targets.