DEFENCE TOOLS OF
The crime wave against vans and their contents is not abating, how can operators protect their livelihoods? James Dallas investigates
Focus On Security
TVL’s security products are available as factory-fitted options and on the aftermarket
the contents of their vans and theft of the vans themselves. Stolen vehicle recovery specialist
W
Tracker is concerned with the latter issue. The firm collaborates with 43 police forces across the UK and has installed 2,000 tracking devices in vehicles nationwide, which it claims enables it to achieve a 95% recovery rate of stolen vans. Steve Whittaker, Tracker’s police liaison manager, says theft of LCVs has increased 30% since pre-Covid days. However, he does not attribute this so much to the cost-of-living crisis
@whatvan
hen it comes to vehicle crime, LCV operators face two major threats; theft of
giving rise to an upturn in opportunistic crime, although he admits this is a factor, instead, he points to
the activity of organised criminal gangs and the simple fact that “some vans are easy to steal”. “Vans are stolen to order or to be chopped,” said Whittaker, explaining that a “chopped” van is one that is stolen to have particular components, such as the engine, roof or wing, stripped out and fitted to other vehicles. He also added that “vans are stolen [to be used] to commit further crimes or shipped abroad”.
Whittaker explains 95% of van thefts are keyless, with criminals employing relay electronic devices that trick the key
fob device into reacting as if the key is near to the vehicle.
He advises van owners to keep their keys in a faraday bag or even a microwave oven to block attacks and to fit a disc lock to the van’s steering wheel. For operators parking their van on their driveway, Whittaker advises installing security posts like those used in car parks. He stresses, however, that Tracker’s main activity is recovering stolen vehicles and claims its very high frequency (VHF) GPS technology is immune to the jamming devices criminals use to block the signals from other tracking devices.“Villains can’t block our frequency,” said Whittaker.
Security firm TVL also works closely with the police, and through its Tell TVL initiative it has built up an online database of van attack methods. However, the company is more concerned with preventing criminals breaking into vans to steal their contents than with van theft itself. Traditionally, TVL has supplied its products to the aftermarket, but Ford has recently taken the lead in offering TVL security packs as factory-fitted options. “We are now seeing more OEM’s following suit to provide customers with security options from the factory, recognising the need for customers to have bespoke solutions,” said managing director Laura Moran.
October 2023 WhatVan? 21
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53
