Van raids account for 85% of tool claims. How secure is your toolkit?
Van tool theft article by Philip Storm, Fleetmaxx Solutions
You are halfway through unloading the van when the customer asks you to come inside and look at the job. You put the drill down, leave the van doors open and think you will be back in a minute. It is an easy thing to do when you are working on your own and trying to keep the day moving.
Now imagine coming back to find the drill, the saw, the batteries and the chargers have all gone. How much would it cost to replace the lot, and how many jobs would you have to move before you could get back to work?
According to claims data analysed by Kingsbridge Contractor Insurance and reported by Van Fleet World, van raids accounted for 85% of the tool claims in its analysis. The average claim was around £3,000, rising to £5,300 in the South East. The same report cites police figures from 46 UK forces showing that recorded tool theft offences rose 16% year on year.
What happens to tomorrow’s jobs if your tools go missing?
Frankie Williams of Stolen Tools UK had around £4,000 worth of tools stolen in November 2022. His work and income stopped overnight, while his bills kept coming. He later upgraded his van security and forensically marked his tools to make them easier to identify if they were stolen again.
If you price up your own kit, count the bits that are easy to forget. A cordless drill needs a battery and a charger. Add the test equipment, hand tools and specialist kit you have built up over the years, then ask yourself what you would need to buy first to finish the jobs already in the diary.
Make locking the van part of the job
My first check would be what happens when the van is busiest. If you are in and out all morning, get into the habit of locking it between trips, even when you are only carrying something to the front door. If you have fitted hook locks, engage them every time you leave the van unattended.
Park on the customer’s driveway or close to where you are working when you can. If you regularly carry expensive kit, a lockable toolbox or an internal security cage adds another layer. At the end of the day, take your most valuable tools out of the van if you have somewhere secure to put them.
If you run a team, agree who locks up after unloading and where the kit goes at the end of the shift. It is a quick conversation to have while everyone is still at the depot.
Check what your insurance covers after you park up
Ask your broker or insurer a specific question.
If my van is broken into overnight where I normally park it, what tools
would my policy cover and what conditions would I need to meet?
While you have the policy to hand, check these four details.
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Overnight storage
Can tools stay in the van? Do the parking location, locks or storage arrangements affect cover?
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Evidence of theft
Does the policy require signs of forced entry? What evidence would you need to provide?
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Cover limits
What is the most the policy will pay for one item and for the whole toolkit? What excess would you pay?
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Proof of ownership
Keep a list of the tools you carry, with serial numbers, photos and receipts where available. Save a copy somewhere you can access if the van is broken into.
Commercial vehicle and contents insurance through Fleetmaxx Solutions
At Fleetmaxx Solutions, we work with specialist insurance brokers who offer a range of commercial vehicle, fleet and business contents insurance. Whether you run one van or manage a team on the road, our partners can help you explore cover for your vehicles and discuss options for the tools and equipment you carry.
Tell us what you drive, what you carry and where you park overnight. Enquire about commercial insurance through Fleetmaxx Solutions.
