Van security isn’t what it used to be, thank heavens. Immobilisers and decent-quality door locks are pretty much standard on all modern vans, with the extra security of full-height bulkheads and solid (instead of glazed) rear doors often offered as a no-cost option.

Concealed storage areas and central locking are also becoming more common. However, if you drive an older van – or your modern van carries goods likely to attract unwanted attention – you may want to step up your van’s security. Here’s how to give the thief some grief.

Get physical

If your van has windows in the rear doors, protect them with punch-steel grilles or laminate, either tinted or clear. (Laminate will hold the glass together if thieves try to smash their way in.) A full-height bulkhead is also a good way of creating a safe cell; if someone does get into the load area, they can’t get into the cab, and vice versa. Does your van have a plastic roof extension? Then line it with wire mesh – crooks aren’t averse to coming in through the roof.

Lock, stock and barrel

A standard barrel lock isn’t always enough to persuade criminals to do their thieving elsewhere so if you want to smirk in the face of crime you should upgrade the security on your doors. Electronic locks that can be mounted on the inside of loading doors will set you back up to £100 each. High-security armoured barrels will cost £35–40 a time.

Slamlocks are useful if you make a lot of deliveries; with these, a quarter-turn of the key will automatically lock the door next time you shut it, and there’s an internal release mechanism, just in case. Reckon on £100. For similar money, you can fit deadlocks, which stop thieves from opening the door by jiggling the internal mechanisms; deadlocks can be opened only by a key. About £150 buys you a system that automatically locks all doors roughly 10 seconds after you’ve left the van.

Fiddler on the roof

If you have to carry things on the roof – ladders, for instance – secure them with a good-quality padlock and chain at the very least. For regular transportation of less bulky items, such as copper pipes, that are too long to fit inside the van, invest in a pipe tube with lockable caps at each end. Then lock the tube to the roof rack.

Be alarmed - very alarmed

Most manufacturers offer alarms as an option on new vans and there are plenty of specialists who will fit a system if your existing van doesn’t have one. Budget for £250 upwards for an alarm that’s suitable for a load area.

Alarms can be triggered by a variety of sensors – contact switches for doors, ultrasonic detectors for windows, passive infrared sensors for picking up a crook’s body heat and so on. Which ones you’ll need will depend on the van, the type of cargo and your budget.

A reputable alarm specialist will be able to advise what’s best for your specific needs. While most people ignore the sound of an alarm, it tends to reduce the time a thief will spend trying to gain access before giving up.

You can also buy alarm systems that automatically call your mobile when the alarm is triggered – very useful if you’re often out of earshot.

Stop thief

Most modern vans have an immobiliser as standard. If yours doesn’t, you should seriously consider fitting one. An immobiliser paralyses a variety of functions – electronic diesel control, starter motor, fuel system, handbrake and so on – so the van won’t move. The more sophisticated models set themselves automatically and can be integrated with an anti-hijack and panic alarm for about £325.

If your van does get nicked, you’ll want it back. A tracking device can help the police find the vehicle. The signal is silent so the thief won’t know that the van is being tracked until it’s too late. Prices start at £300 for the device, including fitting, and go up to about £700 for the more sophisticated systems. Once it’s installed, you then pay an annual subscription to the tracking company of roughly £115.

In the pink

The more your van stands out in a crowd, the less likely it is to be nicked. So think distinctive colours and bold signwriting. If you’re worried about the effect that, say, pink paint would have on its secondhand value, wrap the van up in vinyl – it can be easily removed when you want to resell it. With signwriting, be careful not to advertise to the world that you’re carrying valuables.

Don’t be a hero

A final but very important point: if someone with a baseball bat, knife or gun wants your van or its contents very badly – it happens – just give them the keys. Insurance forms are easier to sort out than physical injuries.

  • For a free copy of the Lex Rough Guide to Vans, call 08457 697381