van break ins

Just when you thought van crime couldn’t get anymore unusual, well it did…this time in a place called Stapleford, a town in Nottingham.

So what exactly happened here? It appears that criminals have been purchasing “magic keys” on the internet, which basically are able to unlock certain types of vans, mainly Ford vans I’ve been hearing.

One of the recent victims to these thieves is a Stapleford Roofer, after his van was broken into and tools stolen while parked overnight on New Eatons Road. Drills, impact drivers and saws were taken, with an estimated value of around £1500.

Of course, there was no sign of a break in when he went to his van in the morning, and it was only once he checked in the back did he realise what had gone on. The thieves had simply unlocked the van with the magic keys, and then proceeded to grab as much as they could before disappearing into the night.

Anyone that lives in Stapleford will know this is a common occurrence, but it makes it even more frustrating that van thieves are now able to do it so easily. With most break ins they can be done in seconds, and then off with thousands of pounds worth of equipment.

In situations like this many van owners decide against claiming on their insurance though. Why? Because they lose valuable no claims bonuses, which only serves to make their van insurance more expensive the following year.

For most people, they decide to simply buy some more tools out of their own pocket, sometimes on the second hand market to keep costs low.

If you ask me there needs to be something done about these so called “magic keys” that are being sold on the internet. Very often criminals can get them for under £20.

I’m really not sure what is going on here but it has to stop…the Police and van manufacturers should work together to put an end to this problem once and for all.

Sure, you are never going to stop van break ins completely, but when you make it this easy for a thief to break in to vans then it’s laughable really.

People are having their businesses almost destroyed just because people in authority won’t do anything about these keys being sold on the internet…hopefully that is about to change.

Towns close to Stapleford have also been experiencing a wave of van break ins, with Eastwood being one of the main areas after 10 thefts were reported within 5 days. All of these vans were Ford Transit brands, which means it looks like the internet keys worked their magic for the criminals once again.

A spokesperson for Nottinghamshire Police recently said, “we would like to remind all van owners to remove their tools from their vehicle when it is left unattended overnight.”

I agree. Yes it is a hassle, especially after a long day at work, but when you have criminals going around who can break in to vans within seconds, the only way to stop them is by having nothing in the van to steal. It really is the only way.

Also I would just like to remind everybody to always compare van insurance when it comes time to renew. This can easily save you a few hundred quid, so definitely worth it.

Police around the country do their best to stop van break ins, but in Derbyshire they are setting up a team to focus all their efforts on this problem.

This comes at a time when reports of criminal incidents involving vans has become a daily occurrence in Derbyshire, especially with trade vehicles that keep a lot of power tools in the vehicle overnight.

Specifically, the High Peak and Derbyshire Dales have become local areas where van break ins are happening just about every week, and this has led to the Police stepping in to take action.

“Despite our best efforts, theft from vans continues to be an issue in the High Peak and also Derbyshire Dales,” commented a spokesperson for the Police.

In my opinion this is definitely something the Police need to do something about, because if they don’t, then it is almost certain that many van drivers in Derbyshire will see their van insurance become more expensive.

We are already in a time where van insurance companies are finding any excuse to make it more expensive…why give them another one? Everybody wants to pay less, not more.

It’s not just the Police who need to take action though, the van owners should also be doing their bit. For example, if you own a van and leave tools stored in the back overnight, then criminals will notice. Don’t think you can get away with it or it won’t happen to you, the chances are it will.

This is why you should always take all tools out of the van at the end of a working day and store them somewhere safer…somewhere which is more difficult for thieves to get to.

The main reason why so many of these criminal gangs go after vans is because they are easy to break into. However, when you start storing tools in the garage or in your house then thieves will probably just move on.

Yes it does take a bit more time at the end of the day to take your tools out of the van, but it’s just one of those jobs that needs to be done.

Also, you might want to try making sure the van is always probably locked up before going into your house at night.

Many times, van owners simply forget to secure their doors. Not only that, but try and park your van off the street if possible, in a garage is ideal, but if it has to be on the street then park it in a well-lit area.

It won’t guarantee that your van is 100% safe from criminals, but it makes it a more challenging van to break in to and the chances are they will move onto another one.

If all van owners in the UK followed this simple advice then van break ins would become less of a problem, and more importantly, cheaper van insurance is something most people could find.

Tag: van break ins

Thieves use “Magic Keys” to Unlock Vans

Derbyshire Police to Focus on Van Break Ins

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3