According to Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles more than a third (36%) of van drivers fell victim to thefts last year with UK businesses reporting £3.5 billion worth of stolen equipment as a result of rising thefts from vans. The van manufacturer found that almost fifty per cent (48%) of van drivers keep more than £2,150 worth of tools in their vans overnight. This means that UK tradespeople are risking up to £5 billion in lost equipment. In a freedom of information request, Police Forces across the UK reported more than 9,000 complaints relating to tool theft in 2022 (37 out of 45 forces responded). London remains a hot spot for the crime in 2022 with over 6,000 reports in the Capital alone. Volkswagen Financial Services has published advice on the best ways van drivers can protect their vehicles:
The Editor’s View
