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No tools sticker on back of van is it a deterrent

For many years van owners have been the target of criminals. With stock, valuable tools and other equipment left in their vehicles overnight, statistics suggest vans are a frequent target of thieves. Precautions of course can be taken, most notably with van owners using van hooklocks, deadlocks and protekta latch shields to prevent door drilling or spiking to make it far harder to access their van’s valuable content. Alternatively some van owners like the less costly approach of simply buying a £5 sign that states ‘No tools stored in the vehicle overnight’. But, is this really a good idea?

The issue that some van owners have with this ‘No tools stored overnight’ sticker is that they feel it actually draws attention to their van. It singles their van out from others as one that may well contain something of value. It is the opinion of some van owners is that their van is less likely to be broken into if they display no sign at all. 

To counter that argument, industry expert evidence suggests that a high number of lesser crimes, like breaking into vans, are done on impulse. Whilst the would-be thief may have the view that he or she will be breaking into a vehicle at some point that day, they will only undertake any such break-in if a suitable vehicle presents itself. But is this actually the case now? We would argue that point all day long, Van crime is at such a level now that cars drive around with 2-4 people inside and simply prey on any van they can see, even on driveways where the owners live.

It is for these reasons that the UK Police advise motorists to remove all valuables such as sat navs, cameras, phones, laptops and wallets from sight when they leave their vehicles. Simply by putting a sat nav in the back of the van out of the line of sight. After all, will a would-be criminal break into a vehicle on the off chance that there is something valuable in the glove compartment or will he simply move on to the next vehicle? The truth is criminals will break in to what he or she wants to be as sure as that there is an obvious reward for the substantial risk he or she is exposing themselves to.

Arguably the same may be true with all models of vans: Is a thief really going to break into a van marked with a "No tools left in van overnight" on the off-chance that the sign is all a cunning ploy to deceive him? Especially with the UK being the CCTV capital of the world, the risk taken by anyone trying to break into a van is not insignificant. Our expert opinion and valued by most van drivers is that the would-be criminal will break inti any van, no matter where is is parked or whether it has a "No tools left in van overnight" sticker

So in conclusion, It really can be a deterrent but on the other hand it may simply tell someone that the van does often have tools inside and they may just take a chance and break-in. So as far as we are concerned, secure your vehicle with Garrison locks, Put a decent size "No tools left in van overnight" sticker on the door and park sensibly where the van is overlooked.