Twenty one vans broken into every hour in the UK

The UK's three and half million van drivers are helping make thieves lives easier according to research from Direct Line for Business. With 51 per cent not having an alarm fitted, 42 per cent without an immobilizer and 16 per cent not even locking their vehicle, it's no surprise that 560,000 (16 per cent) have been broken into in the last three years.

With around 511 vans being broken into every day, thieves are finding they can be rich pickings. However, only 36 per cent of drivers empty their vehicles every night, and only seven per cent have a ‘van vault' or similar secure chest fitted.

The research also found that some are targeted more than once by thieves with over 35,000 drivers having their vehicle broken into more than once in the last 12 months.

Simon Henrick of Direct Line for Business said: "There are over 185,000 vans being broken into a year in the UK, and many drivers are making it an easy earner for thieves. Only 33 per cent of drivers we asked had the relevant insurance to cover their contents. The loss of your tools, or stock can have a severe impact on your business and not having them covered makes it far more costly than it needs to be."

The loss of tools or equipment can be hard to replace according to TV presenter and former tradesman Tommy Walsh: "If you're a tradesman and somebody steals your tools, it not only stops you working, but some tools are like old friends that you trust and have had for years. That's without even taking into account the cost to replace them. The fact is that a thief will always have a buyer for your tools and leaving them in your vehicle is asking for trouble."

The cost

As well as the cost of replacing stolen items, other indirect costs also add up, with 23 per cent of van drivers having to miss up to five days of work after being a victim of crime. For a small business or the self employed, this can have a substantial effect on their income.

Regional differences

London seems to be the hotbed for thieves targeting vans, with 35 per cent of drivers' vans being broken into in the last three years compared with 16 per cent nationally. The areas least affected by van crime are Wales (five per cent) and the Midlands (six per cent)

Drivers in London, are the most security conscious as 95 per cent lock their vans, but they are the worst at emptying the contents (33 per cent). Twenty two per cent of drivers in the South East and Anglia leave their vans unlocked.