Refrigerated van hire in the West Midlands

Potential Security Equipment for your Refrigerated Vehicle: –

ALARMS – Engine Immobilisers are mandatory in England and Wales, however, Vans don’t have to include an alarm and every Van manufacturer has a different offering in their Factory fitted standard package. Possibly, Perimetric (doors being opened) or Volumetric (changes in pressure, such as broken windows) Sensors, however, the most advanced Alarms have both. A Category 1 Alarm with insurance approval from Thatcham Research can reduce insurance premiums. Check with your Insurer for mor information.

ADDITIONAL DOOR LOCKS – These place an additional barrier between thieves and the Van contents, making them an effective visual external deterrent. Two types are available; Deadlocks and Slamlocks. Deadlocks operate manually and Slamlocks lock automatically as the Van door is shut.

TRACKER – It won’t prevent an attempted theft, however, its effective to keeping an electronic tag on your Vehicle if stolen. Trackers can be removed or jammed, but the Vehicle is usually recovered quite quickly as its location is known. Thieves can be deterred by a Van with visual external signs showing a Tracker is fitted. When fitting a Tracker, check with the fitting company that to save time on the installation it hasn’t been fitted in the same place as every other Van from the same manufacturer! 

CATALYTIC CONVERTER LOCKS – All ICE (petrol & diesel) Vans have a catalytic converter (CAT) to control the harmful components of their exhaust emissions. The CAT contains precious metals such as platinum, rhodium, and palladium, very valuable on the Black Market. Vans particularly are the easy option for a thief because of the higher ground clearance and therefore easier access to a larger CAT than a family car. Regular thieves have equipment for removing the CAT in minutes, which completely immobilises the Vehicle and costs of replacement are often hundreds of pounds. A CAT Lock device can be easily fitted or try a marking system, which is cheaper. Either of these options will deter would be CAT hackers. A national asset database is in the process of being created to register all Catalytic Converters, where they are registered as having been marked with the unique and heat resistant SmartWater solution.

LOCKING WHEEL BOLTS & NUTS – All modern Vehicles with alloy wheels will have locking wheel nuts, but rarely used on steel rims. Current increasing Tyre prices and with more Vans sharing the same wheel rims, the most basic wheels can be worth stealing. The cost of a full set of locking Wheel Nuts is low compared to potential inconvenience of your Van having no Wheels!

DRIVER RESPONSIBILITY – Your drivers also have a responsibility to keep your Vehicle they are driving safe, by following the advice shown below: –

  • Park in a well illuminated place close to a wall and on an off-road driveway, to reduce access for thieves. The ideal solution is on your drivers’ home driveway, adjacent to their house.
  • Always lock the Van – In 2022, 45% of Van drivers said that they rarely locked their vehicles during deliveries, so always check it’s locked before walking away.
  • Nothing visible in the Cab – No valuables to remain on display in the Cab. Even a few pound coins, can still be attractive to a petty thief. Make sure if you have an electric Vehicle, that charging cables are hidden from view. They are both valuable and cause massive inconvenience if stolen. Your Decal layout is not just there to sell your products. All additional Decals illustrating Alarms and Trackers are fitted are an effective deterrent too.
  • Keys Safety – Thieves target keyless systems, using a device, usually purchased on-line, to relay your Key Fobs pulse to the Vehicle, allowing it to be accessed and started. A Faraday Container to store your Key Fob, signal-blocks the Keys pulses, and can prevent this access.
  • Secure Apps – Most new Vans, especially EV’s, have a Smartphone App which can both locate the Vehicle, carry out a status check, and often unlock the Vehicles Doors! Always protect by an exclusive PIN or a non-simple password.

As Refrigerated Vehicles continue to increase in price, it’s essential to maximise the security measures you put in place. There are large financial and logistic implications when your Van is either stolen or temporarily neutralised by potential thieves.

In the worst of cases and your Vehicle is stolen, immediately contact your local Police Station (dial 101) with the Registration Number, Manufacturer, Model, Colour and ideally the 17-digit VIN code shown on page 2 of the V5. You will be given you a Crime Reference Number and you notify both the DVLA and your Insurer regarding theft. These notifications still apply even if the vehicle is recovered. Your Insurer will require full details of date, time, location and any other data regarding the theft. Before you sign up for any new Insurance Policy ensure it includes theft, and ideally Replacement Refrigerated Vehicle Cover until you have located a full Refrigerated Van replacement. Finally, store your insurance details away from the Vehicle so if the vehicle is stolen you can still access them.

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Not sure what you need? Our experienced team is here to offer good, practical advice on what best suits your requirements, with no obligation to commit to either Purchase or Long Term Rental. We will assist with each stage of the process, from locating the unconverted van that suits your application, either from our own Vanfridge Ltd stock or from UK Dealer Stock or Factory Order. Once located and the final specification agreed, we will custom build your new Refrigerated Van, always holding the mutually agreed final purchase price shown on the final signed Order Confirmation.
Our sole aim is to provide you first class service. We want to make you as proud of your newly delivered Refrigerated Van as we were when it left our Workshop! Please click below for more information or call 01299 253478 today!