power tools

It’s that time of year again, where morning temperatures are mostly in the minus and van drivers around the country are defrosting windscreens.

Police have recently taken to the airwaves in a bid to warn van drivers about the dangers of not defrosting windscreens correctly and leaving their van unattended

For example, did you know that if you are pulled over by Police this winter and you still have ice on your windscreen, then the Police officer will instantly slap a £60 fine on you? They are just doing their job.

Also, were you aware that if you leave the engine of your van running on the roadside while defrosting the windscreen, the Police officers have been instructed to give you a £20 fine? With all these fines, van drivers will be going without ham sandwiches and flasks of tea before too long.

Perhaps most alarming of all is the message from Police, that if your van is stolen why you were defrosting your windscreen, and you had just nipped into the house to “warm up for a bit,” then your van insurance company probably won’t pay out.

That’s right. Thousands of pounds worth of your property could disappear into the cold winter morning and there is not a thing you could do about it. Your van and power tools just gone, leaving you to start all over again…or go down the local job centre.

The message here is clear if you ask me…do not leave your keys in the ignition while defrosting the windscreen, especially if you plan to leave the van unattended, even for a few seconds.

Gangs of van thieves are everywhere right now, patrolling the morning streets of the UK just looking for that one opportunity. They are organised, quick, and fearless, and will think nothing of taking away everything you have worked hard for over the years.

This has led the Police to give out advice on what van drivers should be doing on those cold and freezing mornings.

Firstly, make sure you give yourself enough time to defrost your window. One of the main reasons why people get it wrong in the first place is because they are rushing.

Secondly, be prepared by using a windscreen shield overnight, and then in the morning, get rid of the ice with a basic scraper. Don’t turn on your engine and then leave the vehicle

Unfortunately, I think many van owners are going to ignore this message from Police, which means this winter could prove to be costly for many of our nations tradespeople and delivery drivers.

With that being said, you can make it not so expensive, and even a bit cheaper, by using a van insurance comparison website. Simply fill in the form and then get instant deals from around 40 companies.

Theft from vans is a daily occurrence in cities and towns around the UK, we know that for sure, but the quiet village? It’s not so quiet right now.

Instead, if you take a walk around any village in the UK at night and in the early hours of the morning, then if you listen closely you will hear the sound of ambitious van thieves going about their trade.

The most common target for these thieves is power tools, that are often left in the back of vans by tradespeople such as builders, roofers, electricians, carpenters, and welders.

Back in the good old days your typical UK village was a safe haven from the nightly crimewaves that were gripping cities and towns.

You could park up your van in a country lane, go to a local village pub with your mates, and then when you got back everything would still be there…power tools as well.

These days, if you park your van down a country lane and go for a walk across the local farm, then by the time you get back your van will have been stripped bare, to the point where all you will be left with is the wellington boots on your feet.

Take villages in Cambridgeshire as a recent example, once safe and picturesque places to visit but now a prime target for those van criminals.

Between October 17th and 24th there was a reported six incidents of van crime in just two Cambridgeshire villages, where an estimated £8000 worth of power tools were stolen.

Police in the area are advising the public to be vigilant, and if they see anyone acting suspiciously then contact them immediately.

The problem is that these criminal gangs are so organised, and so well versed in what they do…that they are often in and out before anyone knows they were there.

Even if you do see something or catch them in the act on CCTV, the Police are typically so slow to respond that it isn’t even worth the bother. The van criminals are long gone before the cops show up…back to their base in the city where the loot can be offloaded.

“Just let your van insurance company take care of it,” a normal response might be from the Police, and ideally that is what would happen.

However, many tradespeople are deciding not to insure the contents of their van, which means when power tools go missing they have no cover. They have to be replaced out of their own pocket.

My advice to any van owner in the villages around the UK is to make sure you are fully covered for everything you keep in your van. This means power tools of course. Use a van insurance comparison website site to get the really cheap prices.

Tag: power tools

Don’t Defrost Your Van Insurance This Winter

Vans in The Village Not So Safe, Anymore

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