Since November 25th, more than eight thefts have been reported to the police. Various components from vans and minibuses have been targeted by the thieves. Police said that materials from these components have been sold on for scrap.

Richard Jackson, a police officer from Bloxwich police station, said that the size of the catalytic converters in the vans makes them the first target for criminals.

He also warned all commercial van owners to make sure that their vans are parked in a safe, proper place and locked appropriately. Another recommendation is to install security devices in the vans and make it difficult for thieves.

PC Jackson also noted that the reported thefts have caused a lot of inconvenience to those involved. This makes it even more important that van owners should take all possible theft prevention measures.

The constabulary also stated that they are planning to conduct an awareness campaign during the Christmas period.

If you own a fleet of business vans and want to protect your business from financial losses, you should seriously consider getting commercial van insurance.

Many van thefts have been reported in the Chorley area recently. In many cases, expensive tools were stolen from the inside of commercial vans. This is the reason why police are contacting the van owners by delivering letters and leaving messages on windscreens. They are requesting van owners to remove their belongings from their vans, especially during the hours of darkness.

Sgt Ian Derbyshire said that, they think the thieves travel around in white vans which have fake number plates. This is why, it is very important to stop any white vans for inspection. This will help to prevent van thefts in the Chorley area.

If you own a fleet of vans then you must ensure that they are covered by a suitable van insurance policy. Today, various kinds of insurance cover have been introduced in the market by the van insurance companies.

A comprehensive van insurance policy is bought by many business owners these days because it protects your business against many types of accidents and damages. If you have a low budget however you must at least get third party van insurance to be road legal in the UK.

Merger of Fiat and Vauxhall

The merger of the Italian car maker with the British giant will see Fiat supplying light commercial vehicles to Vauxhall at the beginning of December 2011. Styled on the existing Fiat Doblo design, the new range of commercial vehicles will replace the present Vauxhall Combo light commercial van. The Vauxhall Combo will hit the end of its lifecycle by the end of 2011. Both these car makers have decided that the new range of commercial vehicles will be produced in the Tofas plant in Turkey which also handles the production of Doblo. The new commercial van will be sold by Opel and Vauxhall dealers throughout Europe and other markets except for North America.

Vauxhall, owned by General Motors, started manufacturing cars in the year 1903. It started as an independent car company but was later taken over by GM in 1925. Vauxhall has two manufacturing units- one in Luton for commercial vehicles and other one in Ellesmere Port for passenger cars. After the merger with General Motors, Vauxhall has continued to be the second largest car-maker in the UK for about two decades.

The police are now advising people to contact them if they have any information about the whereabouts of the stolen medical drugs.

Needless to say, the police are investigating the theft of the van in question, a white Vauxhall Vivaro, which occurred at around 9am, on November 12, outside a private residence on Foxhill Road.

Police reports suggest that the driver left his keys in the ignition before dropping off the delivery. And it was this which resulted in the loss of the vehicle.

The FG10 UVP registered, Health Care at Home van was uniquely built as it included a cooling area in the roof with a fridge that raised the roof level slightly higher.

Van insurance can help

With unfortunate incidents like these on the rise, it’s important that you have a good level of van insurance in place. Having the right van insurance will mean that you can make a claim if you have an accident or if your vehicle is stolen.

Volkswagen’s Caddy

The Caddy commercial van has a side sliding door system which is practical to use. The basic model is a 75 bhp version and will come with a price tag of around €14,000. The new range of commercial vehicles from Volkswagen has use TDI engines with almost 21 percent reduced fuel usage. The van has been completely redesigned with a novel front design resembling the Amarok.

Interiors

The interiors have been neatly done and are very attractive. The second row of seats is flexible and can be moved when required. Some other features include remote control locking and low maintenance costs. The features make the Caddy an attractive urban delivery van option suitable for most businesses. The Caddy also comes in a range of colours.

Between 2004 and 2009, the Caddy sold around 800,000 units and the new generation of Caddy comes with a unique design and excellent engine power so Volkswagen hope the new fleet will eclipse its predecessor. Volkswagen has added that the new Caddy will be the only van in this particular market segment to be enabled as standard with ESP on all models.

The new generation commercial van will come with an extended wheelbase called the Maxi and four motion four wheel drive.

Police are now looking for witnesses as they are sure these thieves must have been seen by passer-bys or people stuck in traffic.

People who think they have seen the crime taking place or have any idea about the whereabouts of the van are requested to contact PC Jordan Baker or call Crimestoppers. The call can also be anonymous.

How to prevent van theft?

Installing van tracking systems in your van is one of the best possible ways to prevent theft and recover your vehicle should it be stolen. It might not actually prevent the theft but will help you locate your van before it is sold on. With the increasing number of van tracking systems available, the rate of van theft will surely decline over the coming years.

It’s hoed the van owner who had his vehicle taken has a van insurance policy that covers theft so the can make a claim.

Having gone inside to pick up a sofa, the driver emerged to find the vehicle had gone. It is thought that the vehicle was left unattended for barely a minute, but this is all that is needed for an opportunistic thief to take their chance. Many van insurance companies will not pay out if a vehicle has been taken after being left unlocked, so it pays to take no chances.

One of the employees of the hospice furniture shop, Ami Garner, said:

“Whoever did this is scum, they have stolen from a charity. It is a major problem because it will cripple us, reducing the amount of deliveries we can do.

“That means there will be less money coming into the hospice for people that really need it.”

It is thought the theft of the van will lead to a loss of £160 a day and unfortunately, the hospice cannot afford a replacement.

The head of fundraising, Paula Widdas, echoed the views of Garner:

“It’s so sad that someone would steal from a Charity, and we are doing everything in our power to find it. We are losing money each day the van is missing and we really need it back to continue our services to the community.

“We are asking the community to keep an eye out for the van, and if anyone has got any information please get in touch.”

The business is run by Pauline and Duncan Martin. Pauline said of the theft:

“Betsy was parked up for the night but when Duncan went out to the yard in the morning she was gone. I don’t know what the person who took her thinks they can do with her because she’s very distinctive and rare – actually unique with her livery.

“She’s not the sort of vehicle that could be easily disposed of on the open market, so I hope she turns up safe and well.”

Even the most distinctive vehicle could be taken by thieves and the more unusual a van, the harder it is to replace. This is why it is worth taking out a comprehensive van insurance policy on such a vehicle. This means that even if your van is stolen, you at least get financial recompense, even if the vehicle is not recovered.

Dorican Collins found the door of his van had been forced open and a number of tools had been taken, including a Freud router, a Bosch jigsaw, a Makita cordless drill and two Makita drill drivers.

Collins says there is a spate of crime in the area as he has also had his car scratched, his home broken into and his fence daubed with graffiti.

“It is a sign of the times. This is a really nice area – everybody used to say it was the nicest part of Worcester. Now, I despair. It is such a shame. It looks beautiful, but underneath there is a lot of crime.”

Collins has now bought replacement tools but has lost a week’s worth of work.

“I have been doing this for about 12 years now. You work so hard to earn a living. They see a van and assume it is a bigger business. They’re not bothered about the fact it is actually a small business.”

In total the butcher, Martin Martindale, believes that the estimated cost of items stolen exceeds £15,000. He has had to cease business while he locates replacement equipment.

The theft happened on Sunday the 2nd of October when thieves smashed their way into his premises. After stealing the van and the goods, the van was driven to East Dorset where it was later found abandoned.

Mr Martindale stated:

“The butchery business has been built up very slowly, bit by bit,” said Mr Martindale.

“My wife discovered the damage on Monday morning and phoned up in tears.

“Because of the loss of equipment I haven’t been able to work this week – they also took most of the meat.

“It was a really well set up job, they wore gloves and knew what they were looking for and doing.”

It’s important to have the right level of insurance so you can make a claim in instances like the above. It’s hoped that Mr Martindale is able to make a claim for the goods he has lost.