[AuRavelling79]

I'm sorry to hear that guys have had their vans taken recently and have learnt from the replies that:-

A) Modern vans can be stolen even if you have the keys on you.

B) That the best precaution is to have all the doors locked even when you are working.

So should we have "ports" out the side/underneath?; or what other precautions can you suggest to protect ourselves?

Sensible replies - not gun turrets and dobermanns - would be welcome.

Also - is there a particular area or type of van that seems vulnerable?

[Steve CM]

we can still work with the vans locked but have the reels inside the van. Or used to be able anyway

[Lee Pryor]

My Dobberman Max is sat here with me in the office now, maybe I should send him out in a van each day.

Im supprised that there arnt more reports of poles and such being taken from the back of a van when you say cleaning round the back of a house, would be easy to grab a pole or 2.

[weetot]

I nearly lost me Purefreedom Trolley to a scrap-man with a pick up, the cheeky git.

[Bobs Window Cleaning]

Get an immobiliser....end of

[mlscontractcleaner]

We have external ports and wouldn't ever work with the side or back doors open; it's just asking for trouble in my opinion

[prestige cleaners]

its a wonder my tools/van hasnt been nicked 10 times over, the amount of times i forget to lock it!

most vans back doors will close on a microbore pipe without crushing it, and then you can lock it too. thats what i do.

it is very tempting to leave the back doors open after walking all the way around the back, but after the scare storys on here, its just not worth it!

we all should put those steering wheel disc locks on everytime we leave our vehicle, i do at night but not in the day, maybe i should?

[Dave Anderson]

My next van will have a reel attatched to the back of the van door on a swing-away type arm (like landrovers, 4x4's)..hose through a fairlead....easy peasy.

Cheers
Dave.

[Dave Willis]

I wonder if you could get microbore through this?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/WINCH-ROLLER-FAIRLEAD-4-WAY-HEAVY-DUTY-/190435527384?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item2c56d78ad8#ht_500wt_922

Or maybe just one of these in the van floor?

http://www.gardinerpolesystems.co.uk/acatalog/hose_roller_guide_stainless.jpg

[prestige cleaners]

I wonder if you could get microbore through this?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/WINCH-ROLLER-FAIRLEAD-4-WAY-HEAVY-DUTY-/190435527384?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item2c56d78ad8#ht_500wt_922

Or maybe just one of these in the van floor?

http://www.gardinerpolesystems.co.uk/acatalog/hose_roller_guide_stainless.jpg

thats a good idea, wouldnt have to go back to the van all the time, but then you would have to cut a hole in the door. maybe a better idea would be to drill a big hole in the door?

[Dave Willis]

If my diy skills were brilliant I'd put one where my number plate is in the tailgate of my Hiace and have a flip up number plate. Unfortunately my diy skills stay firmly in my head and don't move to my hands. 

[Llaaww]

Dog does it for me, I wonder if his food is tax deductable.

[prestige cleaners]

eureka! what  about rigging up a battery to the body work? or seat belt? or seat? may need some help designing it, but that would be awesome!!

[barry mallett]

i let my tyres down everytime i park up  bit of a pain pumping em back up , but its worth it 

[elite mike]

i let my tyres down everytime i park up  bit of a pain pumping em back up , but its worth it 

[AuRavelling79]

i let my tyres down everytime i park up  bit of a pain pumping em back up , but its worth it 

Classic mallett! See - those trad tips work well. Of course you only had 3 tyres to let down and pump back up on your reliant robin!  

[Llaaww]

eureka! what  about rigging up a battery to the body work? or seat belt? or seat? may need some help designing it, but that would be awesome!!

I did that but the dog kept zapping his nose on the bodywork 

[G3ST Cleaning]

Are these vans being taken while being used for work or at night when unattended?

Also what area of the country are they getting taken?

Danny

[clearlyclean]

generators are easy pickings as well make sure you chain them to your van.Often see transits vans left with all the poles unattended but they are always the ally ones too heavy for me  maybe a database of vans so if they get nick they can be tracked and markings on equipment like they put on you tele and video to tell who it belongs to when it gets recovered

[prestige cleaners]

ive put my company name on my warning sign!