A van insurance company has revealed that around 21 vans in the UK are broken into every hour, working out at more than 500 a day.
These startling figures from the van insurance company have caused alarm, particularly as the same study revealed that 51% of drivers do not have a vehicle alarm and that 42% do not have a vehicle immobiliser.
Amazingly, 16% of drivers confessed to not even locking their vans at night, something that certainly has the potential to reduce a motorist's chances of receiving a cheap commercial vehicle insurance quote.
There were other causes for concern too, with only 36% of drivers polled saying they remove their tools from their vehicles at night.
Television presenter Steve Walsh commented on what he perceives to be the folly of failing to remove tools. "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," he said.
While a spokesperson for the van insurance company commented, "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."