Caravan Insurance

Police in Surrey are warning van drivers to take precautions such as removing their tools from their vehicles, after a recent spate of crime in the region.

There has been a steady rise in the occurrences of tools being stolen from vans in east Surrey, with 21 incidents in June, up from 16 in May and 11 in April and with Fetcham, Leatherhead, Coulsdon and Chipstead particular hotspots.

In response, superintendent John Boshier has warned van drivers not to leave their tools in their vehicles unless they have a secure cage they can keep them in, as even if they lock them in a secure box it is not uncommon for thieves to simply take the whole container.

He explained: "When tools are stolen it can cause a great deal of stress for the owner, particularly if they are self-employed.

"Apart from the hassle of trying to replace them it is often very costly and can provide a major blow to small businesses."

Van drivers should mark all equipment so that if it is stolen it can be easily found and returned, although it is advisable to remove all expensive items from the vehicle.

They should also keep their van in a garage if they have one and fit the vehicle with an alarm and an internal security cage.