Lock your van, keep your head on a swivel, and don’t leave tools visible in the back—even for a minute. You’d be surprised how fast it could all be taken…
According to Direct Line, 10 seconds is all it takes for a thief to break into a work van (Kingsbridge Insurance, DLG Corporate Corporate Website). Think 10 seconds. If you park, nip to grab something and leave your van unlocked—that’s all a crook needs to steal your livelihood.
This isn’t rare or far-fetched. It is happening across the UK every single day.
The numbers that ought to scare you
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tool theft every 12 minutes | In 2023, police reported a tool theft every 12 minutes (Registered Gas Engineer). |
| Over 24,500 tools stolen from vehicles | That’s 55 % of all tool thefts, up 14 % from 2022 (Registered Gas Engineer, DLG Corporate Corporate Website). |
| £98 million worth of tools | Statutory value stolen in 2023, costing tradespeople not just tools but business (DLG Corporate Corporate Website). |
Why traders are easy targets
Van theft is low-risk, high-reward for crooks. They know tools are expensive, portable, and often left unsecured. And they move fast—10 seconds fast.
Even when tradespeople invest in extra security—spending on average £626 on locks, drill plating, alarms—thieves still break in (DLG Corporate Corporate Website).
Most trades have no safe space once the van is unlocked. Many leave the tools in the load bay overnight. And over a third admit they routinely store over £2,150 worth of gear in their vans (What Van?).
What this does to real people
For most, the van is their workplace. Lose that, and work evaporates. When thieves hit, tradies are hit hard.
- The average job loss coins in at £1,836 (DLG Corporate Corporate Website).
- Many trades report being hit multiple times (moneysupermarket.com, DLG Corporate Corporate Website).
- The mental toll is huge. Hits on confidence, cash flow, and business reputation run deep.
Public frustration is real. Over 80 % of people say van tool theft should be treated as seriously as burglary, and 52 % think sentencing is too lenient (DLG Corporate Corporate Website). You’re left thinking: why are we left so exposed?
How thieves get in
They do not need master-key skills. Entry tactics are simple:
- Cut panels or smash windows quick and damaging (moneysupermarket.com).
- Keyless relay attacks crooks lift the key’s signal from inside your home (RS Connect).
- Peel and steal lever doors open or puncture panels for access (WeCovr).
- Opportunistic daylight hits – don’t assume safe just because it’s light (Van Reviewer).
How to slow them down
This isn’t about eliminating risk—just making theft harder and more obvious.
- Lock the van. Every time. Even for a minute.
- Park smart. Stick to busy, well-lit areas.
- Install proper locks. Hook locks, slam-locks, anti-peel kits—make the thief work for their minutes (onekeyresources.milwaukeetool.com, Van Reviewer).
- Hide your tools. Keep them out of sight or take them in—especially overnight.
- Mark your kit. UV paint, serial numbers, etching makes resale riskier (Kingsbridge Insurance, Van Reviewer).
- Use alarms or trackers. Door alarms alert you when open—seconds matter (onekeyresources.milwaukeetool.com).
- Record your tools. Keep a list, take photos. Speeds up insurance and recovery claims.
- Get proper cover. Tool insurance pays off whether or not the van is covered overnight (moneysupermarket.com, Kingsbridge Insurance, DLG Corporate Corporate Website).
- Keep an eye out for KYNEKT!
Final word
Vans emptied in 10 seconds. Jobs lost, income gone, stress piling up. That’s the ugly reality every tradie faces.
It is not about living in fear—it’s about being street-smart. Lock your kit, mark your tools, park where people can see you, and invest in security.
Because when a van goes empty in 10 seconds flat, your business, your income—and your mental load—are the real targets.
Stay sharp. Don’t let thieves call the shots.