1 in 5 UK van drivers fell victim to tool theft last year

Tool thefts continue to strain UK businesses, with one in five (19%) van drivers falling victim to theft last year, according to Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles (VWCV) research in the UK market.

While the results were taken from a OnePoll survey of 1,000 van drivers in the UK, it’s hard bet against the theft levels from vans being any better here in Ireland.

A Freedom of Information request by VWCV revealed that as many as 15,464 individual cases were reported to police forces across the UK in 2023, confirming the ongoing prevalence of the issue.

With the research indicating that the average value of stolen equipment per van in the UK stands at over £1,700, this means that tradespeople there are facing a bill of up to £1.64 billion in stolen equipment.

In spite of these risks, it appears that 41 per cent of UK van drivers continue to leave equipment in their vehicles overnight – over a third (37%) of whom confess that the value of tools left in their van exceeds £2,000.

The research appears to indicate impact of tool thefts on UK businesses stretches beyond replacing equipment, though, with the majority (57%) of respondents unable to work while their vans are re-stocked and locks repaired, as well as further risk of an increase in future insurance premiums for van owners who are on the receiving end of tool theft.

With downtime costing companies an estimated £550 a day per van, at a time when UK businesses are already feeling the squeeze, these costs underscore the significant disruption that tool theft can bring.

To help van drivers protect their vehicles, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles offers a range of solutions designed to keep their van secure. In Ireland, the all-electric ID. Buzz Cargo is available with an anti-theft alarm system, which when activated, sounds the horn and activates the hazard lights, alerting by-passers to any unwelcome intrusion.