No tools are stored in this van overnight. We’ve all seen signs like this plastered on the side of vans, but would it send a would-be tool thief packing? Perhaps they might have a go regardless.
Police data for England in 2024 says 8,600 tools were stolen from vehicles, while Direct Line says that in the same year, tool thefts from vehicles stood at 12,414 – that’s 49% of all tool thefts. This is a real problem and could soon reach epidemic proportions, if it hasn’t alrady done so in certain areas.
Self storage for contractors
Increasingly more contractors and tradespeople are turning to business self storage to keep their tools under their belt, i.e. under lock and key, alongside tradespeople, DIYers, and whoever else uses expensive kit that they might not need to utilise all of the time.
Drills, hammers, saws, spanners, diamond-bladed saws, grinders, sanders – they’re all like honey to the wee bee with a swag bag. It just doesn’t make sense to leave what could amount to thousands of pounds’ worth of equipment in a van overnight or in what’s no better than a garden shed or garage, even if you think you’ve fortified it. Your mini Fort Knox at the bottom of the garden might not even be covered on your policy or recognised as an outbulding.
Counting the cost
A turned-over van is not only heartbreaking when you’re confronted with mangled locks, an empty space where the tools used to be, frantic calls to insurers and customers, and cancelled jobs, but it’s potentially damaging to your reputation. Customers will only be understanding up to a point if they’re inconvenienced for more than a week or so.
You might be mid-job and being reliant upon your customers’ understanding, and the ones after that and the ones after that. The knock-on effect is real.
This is downtime you can ill afford, dealing with insurers, and sundry other hassles bolted onto everything else that falls out from van tool theft.
Even if you are covered, there are likely to be delays to payouts etc.
Van strife
There are ways to mitigate this risk to tools in your van going walkabout. You could always soup up your van with beefier locks, reinforced panelling, but looking at those stats, this might all be futile in the face of increasingly more wily thieves.
Geofencing is a good idea as it’ll tell you if your van’s on the move when it shouldn’t be, but by that time, they’re already behind the wheel, and your tools could be long gone.
If you don’t have the luxury of your own garage or driveway, and there’s no guarantee of safe storage here either, then parking in a well-lit street is the next best thing.
Parking with the doors jammed up to walls is a good idea, and can help repel the advances of potential thieves, but is not always possible. Plus, after a hard day’s work, you just want to park up and put your feet up.
On your marks
UV pens to mark your tools so that they can be easily identified later with your postcode, and taking pictures of them, is really what everybody should be doing. Painting your tools with some unique markings will also help them stand out, should you suffer the misfortune of having your van broken into. Likewise, roping in friends and family to keep an eye online in case they are put up for sale.
Break chance
You absolutely should be thinking about Edinburgh Self Storage for your tools when you’re off on your holidays, whether it’s Largs or Lagos.
Otherwise, those tools are like sitting ducks in the back of your van, and you just don’t want the hassle, mess and dust of shifting them all into your house. Who wants to come back off holiday to that as well as a suitcase full of washing and the thought of work weighing you down too?
Why Edinburgh Self Storage is the smart move
Our storage units were built for your tools. We have 24-hour CCTV, coded access, and strong steel doors, which are many more deterents than you could muster even if you retrofit like mad.
Our self-storage deals are flexible so that you can increase or decrease your unit size, so from a couple of toolboxes to a wheelbase van full. There’s flexible access to suit you, and it’s dry so your equipment will remain in good nick.
Tool storage for gardeners
Similarly, many gardeners and landscapers use self storage for their tool storage through autumn and winter when work tends to dry up. These tools are expensive, as well as take up tons of room that could be better utilised to accommodate other stuff.
Cheap tool storage
The rental costs are nothing when you think of how much you could be forking out if you took the gamble and it didn’t pay off. Replacing specialist equipment doesn’t happen overnight, plus it’s such a negative drain on your time.
This isn’t about being paranoid or overly cautious. This is your livelihood.
Be storage savvy and give us a call today on 0131 337 7277 or read more information here.
