We've all seen the stickers... "no tools left in this vehicle overnight" but it turns out that for a lot of tradespeople that's really not the case.

A surprising number of van drivers are in fact leaving their precious tools in their vans overnight.

That's despite 1 in 5 UK businesses falling victim to crime from their vans last year. According to research from Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, 19% of van drivers had their vans broken into and tools stolen.

Year-on-year, crime from vans is down but a Freedom of Information request revealed that 15,464 individual cases were reported to police.

Read our guide on how to keep your van safe from tool theft and van theives

Understandably a lot is at stake for a business, but there's a lot to gain for the criminals too. The average value of stolen equipment per van stands at over £1,700. Multiply that out and that could mean that UK tradespeople are facing a bill of up to £1.64 billion in stolen gear.

Worse still is that more than a third (37%) of van owners say that they leave tools in their vans with a value of more than £2,000.

A majority (57%) of tradespeople surveyed reported being unable to work entirely while their vans are restocked with tools and repairs are made after a break-in.

That downtime costs an estimated £550 a day per van, and there's also a high probability of an increase in future insurance premiums after such a loss.

John Ricardo-Neto, head of product planning at Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, said: “The cost of theft is more than just the price of the tools stolen, it’s the downtime while van drivers replace the stolen equipment, the higher insurance premiums and lost revenues, so it’s imperative that UK tradespeople be vigilant to tool theft.

“We urge those who own expensive equipment to take extra precautions – securing or removing tools overnight and parking in a well-lit, CCTV-monitored area. For those who wish to further increase the security of their vehicles, our range of theft prevention technologies can offer extra protection, allowing van drivers to get back to focusing on their businesses.”

In an effort to remind van drivers about the risks, VW says that its Volkswagen ID Buzz Cargo comes fitted with an anti-theft alarm system as standard. When activated, the anti-theft alarm system sounds the horn and activates the hazard lights to help alert the break-in.

TVL Security, a UK-based vehicle security solutions provider, has introduced updated versions of its award-winning aftermarket lock packages with intelligent connected technology.

The new ArmourShell 2.0 and HookLock 2.0 locking systems, unveiled at the Commercial Vehicle Show 2023 in Birmingham, come with additional sensors that allow fleet managers to monitor whether the locks are engaged remotely.

The locks, when paired with a leading vehicle tracking system, offer a first-of-its-kind solution in the UK's aftermarket vehicle security sector. The accompanying app provides users with real-time feedback and historical data, which can be used to track metrics and validate claims of attacks on specific vehicles. The upgraded locking systems will be compatible with all popular van makes and models on the market, including EV variants, and will commence supply in Q3 2023.

TVL's new Anti-Cut Shielding panel range was also unveiled. Constructed with aramid fibres already used in applications including bulletproof vests, the panels are designed to incapacitate power tools used to cut through the van. The panels prevent unauthorised entry and can be fitted internally to areas around vehicle locks for added protection.

The panels can also be installed in the roof for even greater all-round load security.

Laura Moran, MD of TVL Group, said: “The accessibility and effectiveness of power tools mean they are a popular choice for thieves, so we set out to slow them down. The aramid fibres in our new range have a highly regarded track record in other applications, helping to keep both assets and personnel safe."