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Short answer: start with deadlocks on every load door, an alarm and an immobiliser. Insurers ask about both. Then add lock protection plates and anti-peel brackets. A tracker helps you get your van back. It won’t stop anyone getting in.
Check what your van already has before you pay for any of it. The Citroën Relay Enterprise, for example, comes with deadlocks, an alarm and an immobiliser as standard.
|
Rank |
Feature |
What it doesstops |
Typical cost |
Worth it? |
|
1 |
Deadlocks |
Doors being forced at the handle |
£150 to £250 a door |
Yes. Insurers ask for them |
|
2 |
Alarm and immobiliser |
The van being started without its key |
From £400 |
Yes. Insurers ask for these too |
|
3 |
Lock protection plates |
Locks being forced or drilled out |
£150 to £170 a door |
Yes, if your tools are your living |
|
4 |
Anti-peel brackets or hook locks |
Doors being peeled open from the top corner |
From about £150 a door |
Yes, on any van that holds tools overnight |
|
5 |
Tool marking |
Stolen tools being sold on |
£50 to £60 a kit |
Yes. It’s the cheapest thing here |
|
6 |
Tracker |
Nothing. It helps you get the van back |
From £500, plus a subscription fee |
If your insurer asks or the van’s new |
Typical fitted prices from UK installers.
Then and now: how manufacturers build security in
Vans have always been built to carry first. Security came later. Usually, it came from somebody else.
In 1994, members of the Construction Industry Theft Scheme ran 50,000 Transits between them. They told Ford the vans were too easy to break into and talked about claiming compensation. Thieves were drilling out the locks. Ford was still deciding whether to fit engine immobilisers.
By 2017 the attack had changed. Thieves were pushing a knee into the side door and peeling it down from the top corner. It’s called peel and steal. It works because door panels are kept thin to save weight. Every kilo saved is payload you can carry.
Built to protect the driver
The structure around you has improved fast. In 2021, only 4 of the 18 vans Euro NCAP tested scored above 40% for safety systems. By 2024, 17 of 18 scored above 60%. The Citroën Relay went from a Bronze rating in 2023 to Gold in 2024. Euro NCAP switched vans to star ratings in 2025 and the Relay now has five.
That push came from the law and from business buyers asking for ratings. Security never got the same push. No law says your van needs an alarm. The cab is built to protect you in a crash. The load area is still built to be light.
What manufacturers offer now
Some manufacturers now close the gap at the factory or the dealer. Ask before you order. A factory fit is on the van the day it arrives.
|
Manufacturer |
What’s on offer |
What it means for you |
|
Citroën Relay Enterprise |
Deadlocks, an alarm and an immobiliser as standard. Dealer approved anti-drill plates as an additional fitting. |
The first two items in the table are already paid for |
|
Ford Transit and Transit Custom |
Optional TVL security packs, fitted on the production line. Every pack includes an anti-pick cylinder on the driver’s door. The HookLock pack adds hook locks on the side and rear doors. Guard Mode in the FordPass Pro app alerts your phone if someone gets in. |
Lock upgrades without a trip to an installer |
|
Mercedes-Benz Sprinter |
Mercedes PRO connect flags doors left unlocked and lets you lock them remotely |
Covers the van left open on a job |
|
Renault Master |
Renault’s own deadlock, hook lock and anti-peel kits, fitted by the dealer |
A hook lock pair is £303 and anti-peel £294 + VAT a pair via Renault’s price list |
Van theft hotspots: where vans get stolen most
Van thefts fell 16% in 2025, to 10,013 (DVLA data via Tempcover). That’s still one every 52 minutes. October was 2025’s worst month, with 912 thefts.
|
Rank |
Postcode area |
2024 |
2025 |
Total |
|
1 |
Birmingham (B) |
797 |
649 |
1,446 |
|
2 |
Sheffield (S) |
384 |
311 |
695 |
|
3 |
Guildford (GU) |
341 |
236 |
577 |
|
4 |
Bristol (BS) |
287 |
270 |
557 |
|
5 |
Walsall (WS) |
276 |
219 |
495 |
|
6 |
Leeds (LS) |
258 |
222 |
480 |
|
7 |
Slough (SL) |
269 |
193 |
462 |
|
8 |
Manchester (M) |
241 |
170 |
411 |
|
9 |
Nottingham (NG) |
217 |
167 |
384 |
|
10 |
Wolverhampton (WV) |
204 |
171 |
375 |
Ranked by vans stolen across 2024 and 2025, by the keeper’s postcode. Not adjusted for how many vans are registered in each area.
Tools follow a different map. Simply Business’s tool theft claims were highest in East Anglia (18% of claims), the North East (16%) and the Midlands (15%). No region is low risk.
Most vans aren’t taken with the keys any more. Tracker found 93% of the vehicles it recovered in 2025 were taken without the keys.
Worth knowing before you buy
- Deadlocks only work when they’re locked. Leave your van open on a job and they can’t help.
- Lock protection plates guard the lock, not the panel. Anti-peel brackets cover the panel.
- A bulkhead needs to be solid steel and full height. Mesh won’t keep a thief out.
- Tool marking helps after a theft, not before. Keep photos and serial numbers.
- Ply lining adds weight, which means less payload. See our van accessories guide.
- Out on multi-drop routes all day? A slam lock on the side door is worth adding. For most trade vans it isn’t the priority.
What your insurer will want to see
Every policy is different. Here’s what tends to come up:
- Forced entry: most tool policies need evidence of forcible and violent entry.
- Locks: many want deadlocks on the load doors.
- Alarm or tracker: some insurers ask for Thatcham-approved kit.
- Overnight: many won’t cover tools left in the van overnight.
- Single item limits: these often sit between £500 and £1,500.
Get your policy wording first. Then spec your van to match.
Everyday habits to stop van theft
- Park with your back doors against a wall.
- Pick well-lit spots.
- Take your tools inside overnight.
- Lock up every time, even for a quick drop.
- Keep keyless keys in a signal-blocking pouch.
What we’d fit for £1,000 or £2,000
Already got deadlocks and an alarm, like the Relay Enterprise? Here’s what we’d add.
- Around £1,000: lock protection plates on the side and rear doors, anti-peel brackets on the side door and a tool marking kit.
- Around £2,000: all of that plus a tracker with a year’s monitoring and ply lining with a bolted-down tool vault.
A 2025 Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles survey put the average van tool theft at £2,433. 86% of victims lost work too, nearly four days on average. If you carry more than £2,433 in tools, spend the £2,000.
Got more than one van? Keep it simple
Fit the same security to every van and put every tracker on one platform. It keeps things simple for your drivers and your insurer. We’ll keep your spec on file for a requote on your next van.
See how we help businesses with several vans.
Two vans with the basics sorted
Both have deadlocks, an alarm, an immobiliser and five Euro NCAP stars. Ask us on [channel phone number].
- Citroën Relay L3 H3 Enterprise
- Citroën Relay L4 H3 Enterprise
Frequently asked questions
Are deadlocks worth it on a van?
Yes. A deadlock only opens with your key or remote, which stops a thief forcing the handle. Many insurers ask for them. Check your van first. Plenty of new vans have them as standard.
What is peel and steal and how do I stop it?
It’s when a thief pushes the top corner of a door down to open a gap and reach in. Thin door panels make it possible. Anti-peel brackets or hook locks at the top of the door stop it.
What security parts do insurers want on a van?
If making a claim, insurers usually ask for evidence of forced entry and proof of deadlocks on the load doors. Some want a Thatcham-approved alarm or tracker. Many insurers won’t cover tools left in overnight.
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