MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
We will be in touch
Had my van broken into on wed evening in my drive. Eight power tools were taken. I'm fortunate that I've insurance that will cover replacements but feel I need to beef my van/tool security. Does anyone else partition off a side door compartment in their van? I feel a steel rope and padlock through the handles of the carry cases would give me some peace of mind too.
I'd get on to it now but I've no tools!
Side doors are so easy to open, heard of a few thefts that involved side doors., partiton off the side door, and reverse up to a wall etc, or park passenger side to wall.and a bulkhead between the cab and load compartment.
I used to back up to a wall and had fancy plates fitted around the door handles as the last time mine was broken into they just bent all my doors around the handles so they could get into the locking mechanism inside the door, after that I emptied it and left the door open, the damage cost me more than it was worth
Plan was to keep tools in the side door compartment since I've glazed rear doors- they broke one of these to get in on we'd night. I might plywood and weld mesh these now
apply safety film to inside of glass incase they smash it again, then screw plywood to inside of doors using self tapping screws loads of them
Also where you leave your van has a deterent effect,eg well lit area.
But if they want your tools they will have them.SADLY.
I had a van vault bolted down in the back of my old van which will thwart most thieves.
Different vans have different known vulnerabilities, although having glazed rear doors and a bunch of tools on show is a bigger vulnerability than most. That said a broken window is a quicker, cheaper repair than having holes stabbed through the bodywork to operate the locks. Look up armaplate they make lock protectors that guard against the common attacks, which are expensive repairs as well as the loses from the theft. Or buy a big locking tool box from the likes of van vault and bolt it through the floor.
I also spread my risk. I'm not anal enough to bring all my tools in, but I do take the key ones in, some live at home, some in the van, some in the workshop, that way you don't lose all your work kit in a oner.
Van vault bolted to bulkhead or floor, in experience if some shit wants the tools stuff will only slow them down, if they cant get tools theyle take the van instead, just take tools out at night ballache yes but saves waking up to no gear and a few days lost graft.
I had a van vault bolted down in the back of my old van which will thwart most thieves.
This or remove your tools every night. Of course that won't necessarily work all the time as a friend had his tools stolen from his van in B&Q car park whilst he was in the shop. Side door again. On the plus side he didn't have far to walk to get some replacements.