Reply No. 202


LOCK ON TO VEHICLE CRIME By Lisa Richardson, brand manager, Kasp Security


For a tradesman their work van is essentially their office. Without it work would come to a standstill, and when we consider the Office of National Statistics figures that there were 1.1million vehicle related crimes during July 2011 and June 2012, we can see how it could make quite a dent in a tradesman’s back pocket. Of the 1.1m crimes, the Police Crime Survey reveals that on average 47,000 commercial vehicles


are actually stolen each year, costing British businesses an estimated £152 million in lost assets, not including loss of turnover or increased operating costs (according to Van Insurance Cheap)i. Furthermore, increasing insurance premiums have lead to a significant number of crimes going


unreported. The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) reports that business crime is grossly under recorded, with only 1 in 8 incidents reported. The FSB claims that in the last year alone nearly 66% of businesses have been victims of crime


but are hesitant to report incidents stating it was ‘too much hassle’ or ‘police response is too slow’. Time is money and the longer a vehicle is off the road or a tradesman is without his tools the more quotes and appointments are missed impacting negatively on future earnings. Not only that but we must also consider the power of word-of-mouth. Many tradesmen generate business this way but with productivity on hold due to vehicle crime, deadlines go unmet and jobs get postponed, resulting at best in the loss of one job and at worst, bad news travelling fast questioning reputations. However, with all that scaremongering,


there are many ways to deter opportunist thieves and protect vehicles, and indeed livelihoods. It needn’t cost the earth and could actually save money in the long term, with some insurance providers offering up to a 10% discount if vehicles are protected with durable security devices. The security chosen to deter thieves


and vandals should be right for the job. Spending thousands of pounds on tools is a big expense if a tradesman falls prey to the criminals who empty a van, or worse, steal the van. Tradesmen know the importance of choosing the right tool for the job and take a lot of pride in their tools. It makes good sense that the same pride is displayed when seeking security methods to protect them. When it comes to security, you


need a lock you can trust. For example, Kasp’s 500 series Van Lock and Hasp has been designed to make it almost totally resistant to common forms of commercial-vehicle break-in, providing virtually no points for attack. The Kasp shackle-less 500 series


lock is enclosed within the walls of the hasp allowing maximum protection against hacksaw and cropping attacks. The six-pin cylinder provides extra protection against picking and the tough, zinc-plated steel hasp gives added strength and protection against corrosion. It also comes with fixing bolts, where other similar products on the market do not supply these. Kasp also offers a range of


electronic security products. These battery-operated alarms are triggered by the detection of movement and are ideal for vehicles, as well as toolboxes. Each offers an ultra sound alarm that attracts


immediate attention (90dB – 130dB), require no mains power and are portable for added


convenience and security. Although we can never guarantee that your vehicle will not


be a target of the staggering number of thefts annually, there are measures that can be taken to deter them. The sheer strength and durability of the Kasp 500 series Van Lock is enough of a visual deterrent to make any thief think twice about tackling your van, after all, the longer it takes them to break-in, the more likely it is they will get caught.


For further information or to find your nearest stockist, please visit www.kaspsecurity.com or call 01758 704704.


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