How Fleet Owners Can Protect Vehicles Amidst Rise in Van Theft

March 6, 2023

Car theft is soaring and businesses with a fleet of company cars or vans should be on guard and ensure that all of their company car drivers are aware of the risks and taking extra care to protect their vehicles.

A shortage of car parts is thought to be fuelling a rise in vehicle thefts with certain cars and vehicles being highly sought-after. Thieves are reported to be stripping down stolen vehicles within hours so that their components can be quickly sold on.¹

There was a much-publicised computer chip shortage during 2021² but other car parts have also been hard to come by. Factory production of some makes of cars have still not recovered and there are long waits for brand-new vehicles. Used vehicles are having to be owned for longer, putting pressures on car parts for repairs. It is no surprise that thieves are capitalising on this situation.

In the year to March 7, 2022, there were 88,915 vehicle thefts recorded by 34 police forces, this equated to around 244 vehicle thefts a day so caution should become second nature in vehicle security.

Below is a list of steps fleet owners can take to prevent harm from arising.

1. Be vigilant. Make all drivers aware of the rise in thefts, the implications and encourage them to be cautious about where and how they park up.
   
   
2. Never leave keys in the ignition. No matter if you are just quickly popping into a shop or petrol station. It only takes seconds for a thief to steal a car that is ready to go. Delivery drivers should be extra cautious about this, prioritising vehicle security over speedy drop offs in which they keep the engine running, whilst they head to a front door.
   
   
3. Do not rely on automatic locks. Drivers should not rely heavily on automatic locking systems via their key fobs. Criminals can use blocking devices to prevent the key signal working as the driver presses the fob and then swoop in once the driver has left the car, believing it to be locked. So if there is ever a doubt, double check the lock has engaged, particularly if parking in a notorious car theft area.
   
   
4. Add extra security devices. For example, a steering lock. The more deterrents in place, the more likely a thief will opt for an alternative target.

Keeping company vehicles safe is imperative for any business, particularly when it is currently so difficult to replace vehicles quickly, because of car manufacturers’ issues and order backlogs. Having cars or vans on the road can be a key part of business continuity and ensuring that customers remain satisfied and loyal with the service provided.

Risk management is more important than ever and it is well worth analysing all of your risks with an experienced insurance broker and putting in place the insurance umbrella that your business needs to protect its assets, people and operations.

If you would like to seek advice on Motor Fleet Insurance, please get in touch.

Sources:
1 Cars being stripped in hours as rise in thefts linked to parts shortage
2 Why is there a chip shortage?