Tag: tool theft

How Safe is Your Van?

Posted on by News Desk

News this week for van drivers to lose sleep over is a report that theft from vans is costing van drivers a whopping £264 million a year. A study commissioned by van insurance company Honcho, reports that each van break in costs tradespeople a massive £5,584 a time. 

Theft from vans occur in the UK once every 23 minutes. While some insurance companies are on top of this and help out by offering 24-hour replacement services for items stolen, so that van drivers and tradespeople can get back to work, pronto, many don’t and still take their own sweet time sorting out a payout while you watch the work slipping away. It can, on average, put a tradesperson out of work for around an entire month.

If you’re a sparky or a plumber and you see your van being broken into, the average loss from a theft would take two months wages to replace all the lost items. 

Yet still, 89% of you are not fully covered for loss of goods as a result of a thefy, and 84% of you don’t have a courtesy van on your van insurance policy. 

This makes the need for ensuring your in-vehicle security is as good as can be, with lockable storage and additional locks on entryways. 

If you don’t have the added extras you may need if you become another one of those unlucky victims of van theft, it might be worth checking out what a new van insurance policy can do for you. 

Why Haven’t Van Owners Been Told About The “Peel and Steal”?

Posted on by News Desk

Van criminals are roaming the streets looking for YOUR parked van and they have one simple magic move that instantly works.

It’s called the “peel and steal,” which one expert described as like “peeling the top from a can of sardines.”

These van thieves are not smart and they don’t have expertise…but when breaking into a van is as simple as opening a tin of fish, then it’s no wonder we are right in the middle of…

The biggest van crime spree in the history of the world.

That’s right. At no other point in history has van crime been so easy for criminals. Even complete idiots with no previous criminal education or experience…even they are “peeling and stealing” their way to the top.

Thousands of pounds worth of tools are swiped in seconds, and then gone. Without warning and without any clue.

“I’m baffled,” Police officers are known for saying when they eventually turn up to the crime scene.

“What should I do now?” you ask.

“My only advice would be to visit Cheap Van Insurance,” the Police officer would offer, as a way to protect yourself in the future.

“Yes…I’m beginning to wish I had gone to Cheap Van Insurance before this whole mess occurred,” you might reply.

“Everybody says that…” the police officer says before beginning to walk away…

“Oh, and just one more thing…” he would say as leaving your house

“Where were you the night this happened…?”

I think we can all agree the only way for every single van owner in the UK to protect themselves against the “peel and steal” is to take 3 minutes of your time and fill in the form here at Cheap Van Insurance.

Even if it wasn’t recommended by the law and talked about by those in authority, it would still be the place to be.

Do you know why? Cheap van insurance quotes…that is why.

Protection against the peel and steal is important, but the cheapest van insurance quotes in the UK is even more enjoyable.

Why pay more, year after year, when you could be paying less. Stick your fingers up to your van insurance company and never look back.

“I’m going to CVI,” you say, and with those words you are on the road to saving a fortune.

So take action right now and join the thousands of van owners who insure their van and tools at prices many would not believe…if they didn’t see the quotes right there in front of them.

“It’s just like magic,” said one van owner.

Tool Theft Again! But…Reunited is the Man With Van

Posted on by News Desk

Cheap Van Insurance enthusiasts will no doubt remember the numerous blog posts where I talk about tool theft. It’s headline news.

Unfortunately, most of the time those sneaky but clever van thieves are in your van, and then, with a crafty plan they are away with your tools…never to be seen again.

This usually means the tradesperson is left in a bit of a situation, because the simple fact of the matter is that most people out there do not include tool theft protection in their van insurance policy.

Maybe you think it’s too expensive? Think again is my advice, because all you have to do is compare van insurance, right here of course, and then you get the really cheap deals. Include some tool theft cover and you really won’t be paying too much.

Despite the fact that van tool theft is typically a crime that usually leaves police officers baffled, some of these incidents do have a good ending.

Take the recent story of Ryan Harman-Taylor who hails from the town of Weston-Super-Mare. He was having a great day due to the fact his second child had just been born, but then he returned home to find his van broken into and the tools vanished.

Yes, it was those cunning yet methodical van criminals I am always talking about, who are waiting to pounce no matter where you are in the country. Sometimes they drive all around the country, armed with an A-Z street book and circling the points of interest.

On this particular day they were in Weston-Super-Mare, and it didn’t take them long to find their target.

So they were in and out like a flash, and then…gone…back to base to offload the loot before hitting the streets again to get more loot.

Back to the story and it was £19,000 worth of tools that were stolen from that van, that day, and it left Ryan Harman-Taylor without any way to do his work as a carpenter.

In situations like this most tradespeople have to admit defeat and get directions to the local job centre, but in this story there was a twist.

For once the Police actually got their act together and apprehended the tool thieves. These particular thieves had been doing a lot of activity, to the point where Avon and Somerset Police were actively patrolling the roads looking for suspicious individuals.

It didn’t take them long to find the culprits, and after searching their property they found thousands of pounds worth of stolen tools, including the £19,000 worth of tools we have been talking about in the story.

So, the man with van is reunited with his power tools, and for once those criminals didn’t get away with it, although it wouldn’t surprise me if they avoid jail and are on the streets again in no time at all…the captured, once again the hunters.

This all just highlights the importance of making sure you have insurance for your tools. Don’t leave it a minute longer…fill in the 3 minute form now and be rewarded with 40 quotes from van insurance companies and brokers.

£5000 Worth of Tools Stolen…”NOT COVERED”

Posted on by News Desk

Despite the fact that I warn van drivers on a regular basis about making sure they are insured for tool theft, it seems that many are not listening.

Take the story of a builder in Stoke, who recently had a staggering £5000 worth of power tools nicked from his van. Unfortunately, when he phoned his van insurance company to ask for a cheque they told him that was…”NOT COVERED.”

He was shocked at the revelation, and even a bit annoyed, but it didn’t change the fact they were not paying out and there was nothing he could do.

“I am 100 percent I locked the van,” said Scott Holford who had his tools stolen, “I remember the lights flashing and I could hear the mechanism lock.”

As I’ve reported about before, these van criminals don’t care if your van is locked or not, they have the means to get in to almost any van with ease. How? It’s those magic keys we have been hearing about, that can be purchased on the internet for £20 and give thieves a license to steal from every van owner in the UK.

The £5000 worth of tools had taken Scott 10 years to collect, but now, he has to start again from scratch. His staff and customers are also going to be affected.

“The customer I’m working for now doesn’t have a kitchen at the moment and the apprentice won’t be able to have a pay cheque this week.”

It just goes to show how van crime has consequences beyond the owners themselves, and that is why I recommend every tradesperson in the UK to make sure they have the correct insurance.

In other words, check you are completely covered for tool theft. Don’t leave it to chance, because as we keep hearing time and time again…there is a thief at a street near you waiting to strike and rob you of everything in your van.

Another way to protect yourself is to never leave any tools in your van overnight. Many tradespeople find they don’t have the time to do this after a long day which is fair enough, but if you can do it then by all means do.

One complaint from builders and other tradespeople is that van insurance is expensive enough right now, and that adding additional tool cover is just too much for their wallet.

I agree some of the prices being quoted are silly at the moment but you can make things significantly less expensive by using a van insurance comparison website.

Many van drivers are saving a few hundred quid, and then they can use that extra cash to get cover for their tools.

Step 1

Complete your quick and easy quote

Step 2

Reveal your van insurance policies

Step 3

Pick your favourite and get instant cover