Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: AuRavelling79 on November 05, 2010, 09:43:13 am
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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?
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we can still work with the vans locked but have the reels inside the van. Or used to be able anyway :D
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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.
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I nearly lost me Purefreedom Trolley to a scrap-man with a pick up, the cheeky git. >:(
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Get an immobiliser....end of ;)
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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 :-\
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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?
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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.
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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
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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?
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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. ;D
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Dog does it for me, I wonder if his food is tax deductable.
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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!!
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i let my tyres down everytime i park up ;D bit of a pain pumping em back up , but its worth it ;D
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i let my tyres down everytime i park up ;D bit of a pain pumping em back up , but its worth it ;D
;D ;D ;D ;D
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i let my tyres down everytime i park up ;D bit of a pain pumping em back up , but its worth it ;D
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! ;D
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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 :o
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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
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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 :o 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
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ive put my company name on my warning sign! :)
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put tracker on van, cost around £300.00, then from £8.00 per month, something we are looking into at minuite
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put tracker on van, cost around £300.00, then from £8.00 per month, something we are looking into at minuite
http://www.tracker.co.uk/TRACKER/ProductDetails/LCVandHGV.aspx that's good value
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thanks steve, just had a quick look at the site, i think the one i am looking at has more than one route of tracking, will check with them, but thats how i understood it at the time, all fitted by tracker company (last time we had one, we fitted it ourselfs). also if you change vehicles its only £45.00 to have removed and reinstalled into new van
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Dog does it for me, I wonder if his food is tax deductable.
I believe you can claim costs of keeping a gaurd dog.
Going to buy my next dog through the business.
I take my dog out with me if i am going to be worling in the less safe areas - I dare anyone to try and get in the van while he is in "his" van.
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i have trackersw in my vans but as my one that got taken is only a few months old i hadn't fitted it yet. think i've learned my lesson
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Hi Steve.
Sorry to hear, im not far from you and have seen your vans.If i spot one out of your area i'll say.
Asked someone today about how it was nicked.They said they need a man on the inside at dealers-any dealers- they can get the key with reg no, supposed to be reg plus vin (and possibly production of log book) but for a bung the reg would be good enough.
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Cheers. Were you from slump?
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Fit a Quartix Tracking device 20 pounds a month and you can see where your van is "live" from any computer.
You can also see when the lads sneak off home early and claim for overtime ;D
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Gold,
I think that the number of vans being report stolen is very worrying.
When I worked for Citroen you could only order a duplicate key from the parts department with proof of identity and the vehicles registration document in the same name. The key was then ordered from Citroen.
When the key came all that key would do was to unlock/lock the doors.
The vehicle then needed to be booked into the workshop and put on the computer so your new key's immobiliser chip could be married to the ignition so it deactivates the immobiliser enabling your new key to start the engine.
I thought all vehicles employed the same process, hence the reason why keys are being stolen through front door letter boxes from off the hallway table.
During the day I lock the cab of the van, with the dog inside and windows partially open and work out of the back, the doors always closed by not usually locked. Now I am thinking that I must start to look at other ways to protect my van a bit more.
Spruce
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i have seen some decent systems sold on ebay where the seller seemed to have no idea about what they had. now there could be a decent excuse but basicly our systems have no identity. no seriel numbers no id tags, simple idea for suppliers but would make them traceable.
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how many of us leave our keys lying around downstairs or in the key hole at night?
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how many of us leave our keys lying around downstairs or in the key hole at night?
Never, because my brother deals professionally with scrotes who nick cars and he tells me that this is now pretty much the only way they steal modern vehicles. Keys are hidden every night. I would no more leave them in the open than leave the van unlocked.
Vin
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Just take the keys out the van while you're working if it bothers you.
Wouldn't be bothering with all this locking it up and fitting ports business where I work.
Stay out the council estates. ;D
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Just take the keys out the van while you're working if it bothers you.
Wouldn't be bothering with all this locking it up and fitting ports business where I work.
Stay out the council estates. ;D
I tell you what squeaks if you lost your van i'm sure you would see things differently. You wonder why you get s*it on here ::)
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Just take the keys out the van while you're working if it bothers you.
Wouldn't be bothering with all this locking it up and fitting ports business where I work.
Stay out the council estates. ;D
nout wrong wiv council estates old bean
u could do yr business a favour n get on a few
then u might earn sum dollar ;)
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Just take the keys out the van while you're working if it bothers you.
Wouldn't be bothering with all this locking it up and fitting ports business where I work.
Stay out the council estates. ;D
Please try Roger, please try! ::) ::) ::)
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Just take the keys out the van while you're working if it bothers you.
Wouldn't be bothering with all this locking it up and fitting ports business where I work.
Stay out the council estates. ;D
nout wrong wiv council estates old bean
u could do yr business a favour n get on a few
then u might earn sum dollar ;)
Yeah right. You earn far more in the good areas. ???
You want to try them...then you might earn some dollar. And not get your van tampered with. ;D
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Just take the keys out the van while you're working if it bothers you.
Wouldn't be bothering with all this locking it up and fitting ports business where I work.
Stay out the council estates. ;D
Please try Roger, please try! ::) ::) ::)
I don't get that Malc, sorry. ???
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rog he means do you really work :P :P :P :P
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it might be an idea not to post pics of whats in your van too. as long as you cant be identified by your profile.
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just disconnect the terminal from the battery, simple as that, only takes a few secs, easy and guaranteed
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just disconnect the terminal from the battery, simple as that, only takes a few secs, easy and guaranteed
another good one jouk.
maybe at night, if i did that every time i stopped, i think i would go mad!
so far i think to be 100% sure its
1. lock van (i know obvious)
2. alarm
3. immobiliser (got)
4. steering wheel disc lock (got)
5. gear lever lock (wouldnt work on my scudo)
6. disconnect battery
7. mobile in van
8. tracker (expensive) got, dont use
9. alexander swan (expensive)
10. wheel clamp (got, dont use)
11. ummm?
12. flame throwers, (illegal unfortunatley, except south africa) actually thats for getting jacked.
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get a cardboard cut out or make a scarecrow type thing and put it in the passenger seat!(only for one man bands).
that ll keep em away!! 8) 8)
dazmond
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This is one way of leaving the reel in :
http://img824.i.us/img824/1354/spa0522.jpg
From my van :
http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=76893.0
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just disconnect the terminal from the battery, simple as that, only takes a few secs, easy and guaranteed
another good one jouk.
maybe at night, if i did that every time i stopped, i think i would go mad!
so far i think to be 100% sure its
1. lock van (i know obvious)
2. alarm
3. immobiliser (got)
4. steering wheel disc lock (got)
5. gear lever lock (wouldnt work on my scudo)
6. disconnect battery
7. mobile in van
8. tracker (expensive) got, dont use
9. alexander swan (expensive)
10. wheel clamp (got, dont use)
11. ummm?
12. flame throwers, (illegal unfortunatley, except south africa) actually thats for getting jacked.
Flame throwers illegal in South Africa now.
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Dog does it for me, I wonder if his food is tax deductable.
Knew a guy who brought his alsation out with him in his van. The dog was stolen one day. Not a word of a lie...
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silly thing to say but im looking to getting my own wheel clamp, dont take long to fit. my uncle uses one in london so when he parks ppl think hes been clamped and dont bother to clamp him twice lol
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how many of us leave our keys lying around downstairs or in the key hole at night?
Never, because my brother deals professionally with scrotes who nick cars and he tells me that this is now pretty much the only way they steal modern vehicles. Keys are hidden every night. I would no more leave them in the open than leave the van unlocked.
Vin
Problem with that though is that if they really want your vehicle they will beat it out of you, your wife or someone else close to you.
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silly thing to say but im looking to getting my own wheel clamp, dont take long to fit. my uncle uses one in london so when he parks ppl think hes been clamped and dont bother to clamp him twice lol
good one ant!
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> Squeaky
We'd already done the "take the keys with you" one at the start. That was the point - lots of us - like you it seems - didn't realise that your (modern) van could be nicked without the keys.
;D
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> Squeaky
We'd already done the "take the keys with you" one at the start. That was the point - lots of us - like you it seems - didn't realise that your (modern) van could be nicked without the keys.
Two camps, one says it's easy, the other says it's pretty much impossible without the key. I hear this all the time. Now who's right. ???
Never, because my brother deals professionally with scrotes who nick cars and he tells me that this is now pretty much the only way they steal modern vehicles. Keys are hidden every night. I would no more leave them in the open than leave the van unlocked.
Vin
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Fit a dead man switch;
http://www.electricalcarservices.com/battery-isolator-switch-standard-ecs-rsk594-p-1391.html
£4.95 relatively simple to fit.
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Nice, I like it.
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Fit a dead man switch;
http://www.electricalcarservices.com/battery-isolator-switch-standard-ecs-rsk594-p-1391.html
£4.95 relatively simple to fit.
Trouble is none of us will go underneath the bonnet each time we leave the van to switch this off
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I've never had my van stolen (yet) but sympathise with those that have. I would suggest not putting your address or pictures of your van on your websites. I would imagine if someone wanted to steal a window cleaners van especially one fitted with wfp stuff they would scource everything out first like looking at your website and pics of your van etc. They could then find out which areas you cover then hey presto!!!
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> Squeaky
We'd already done the "take the keys with you" one at the start. That was the point - lots of us - like you it seems - didn't realise that your (modern) van could be nicked without the keys.
Two camps, one says it's easy, the other says it's pretty much impossible without the key. I hear this all the time. Now who's right. ???
Never, because my brother deals professionally with scrotes who nick cars and he tells me that this is now pretty much the only way they steal modern vehicles. Keys are hidden every night. I would no more leave them in the open than leave the van unlocked.
Vin
Do you think that a proportion of those who have left there keys in the ignition or unattended and had there vehicle stolen have sworn blind to the insurer's that they haven't (left them there)? Human nature dictates they would.
But do some get nicked with no keys?
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Fit a dead man switch;
http://www.electricalcarservices.com/battery-isolator-switch-standard-ecs-rsk594-p-1391.html
£4.95 relatively simple to fit.
Trouble is none of us will go underneath the bonnet each time we leave the van to switch this off
You fit it inside the cab
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> Squeaky
We'd already done the "take the keys with you" one at the start. That was the point - lots of us - like you it seems - didn't realise that your (modern) van could be nicked without the keys.
Two camps, one says it's easy, the other says it's pretty much impossible without the key. I hear this all the time. Now who's right. ???
Insurance co's have been known to ask for both sets of keys before to prove that you didn't leave the keys in the ignition. How that would work with someone who bought a van second hand with only 1 key beats me.
Of those whose vans were stolen, did you buy them second hand and did you get all the original keys?
Never, because my brother deals professionally with scrotes who nick cars and he tells me that this is now pretty much the only way they steal modern vehicles. Keys are hidden every night. I would no more leave them in the open than leave the van unlocked.
Vin
Do you think that a proportion of those who have left there keys in the ignition or unattended and had there vehicle stolen have sworn blind to the insurer's that they haven't (left them there)? Human nature dictates they would.
But do some get nicked with no keys?
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All my gear is getting a bit old now so i dont think anyone would want to steel it. I have had a small sporty steering wheel fitted to my van, with a quick release centre nut. So i take the steering wheel with me on my back. So if you see anyone driving a van without a steering wheel. ITS MINE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Lots of posts on disconneting battery terminals not good if you have a modern motor as can cause problems if battery is disconnected for long periods of time.
Due to onboard computer etc . Microbore. Hose out back door is by far the best idea as motor is kept totally secure .
I find it more of a risk having my dog in truck as he is so soft
And their is a lot of dog thefts as well so it is very rare that he comes to work with me . Unless he has a giant roast bone and you try and take it then he turns . Mike
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All my gear is getting a bit old now so i dont think anyone would want to steel it. I have had a small sporty steering wheel fitted to my van, with a quick release centre nut. So i take the steering wheel with me on my back. So if you see anyone driving a van without a steering wheel. ITS MINE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
nice one :D very Mr Bean ! ;D
My van is 11 years old and only a very basic diy set up , so I don't really have any worries, but how about getting window stickers made for would be thieves so they assume you have a fancy tracking device fitted ? would they still take the risk ?
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Van signage will put a lot of potential thieves off as it draws attention to the van
and would make it easier to spot.
A steering lock that clips on and off quickly this will slow a thief down and maybe give you
enough time to get back to the van before its taken.
Don't use your van as a run around if you can avoid it, its more likely to get stolen when unattended
in shopping centres and similar places.
If you can remove valuable poles and equipment when parked up at night at least the insurance
will cover the lose of the van but might not replace all of your equipment.
Don't take the attitude that you hear on this forum at times ( Iv been working for years with my van doors
unlocked with no problems) sooner or later everybody's luck can run out it only needs to happen once.
And by the way if you where a thief on the prowl would you be targeting council estates or well to do areas.
Thieves can strike anywhere.
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Take out the fuse for the fuel pump.