21 vans broken into every hour

Direct Line for business has said 21 vans get broken into every hour in the UK because of poor security by the country’s 3.5 million van drivers.

• 560,000 van drivers don't lock their vehicle
• 35,000 drivers' vans broken into more than once in the last 12 months
• London is the worst area, with over one in three van drivers' vehicles broken into
• 51% do not have an alarm fitted
• 42% without an immobilizer
• 16% do not even lock their vehicle,
• Only 36% of drivers empty their vehicles every night
• Only 7% have a ‘van vault' or similar secure chest fitted
• 560,000 (1%) have been broken into in the last three years.
• More than 35,000 drivers had their vehicle broken into more than once in the last 12 months.
• 23% of van drivers having to miss up to five days of work after being a victim of crime

Simon Henrick of Direct Line for Business said: "There are over 185,000 vans being broken into a year in the UK, and many drivers are making it an easy earner for thieves. Only 33 per cent of drivers we asked had the relevant insurance to cover their contents. The loss of your tools, or stock can have a severe impact on your business and not having them covered makes it far more costly than it needs to be."

Regional differences

• London has 35% of drivers' vans being broken into in the last three years compared with 16% nationally.
• The areas least affected are Wales (5%) and the Midlands (6%)
• Drivers in London, are the most security conscious as 95% lock their vans, but they are the worst at emptying the contents (33%).
• 22% of drivers in the South East and Anglia leave their vans unlocked.