Contractors Accommodation › Keeping your van and tools safe when working away
Keeping your van and tools safe when working away
Losing your tools on a job away from home means losing work as well as kit. A few habits, and the right questions before you book, cut the risk a lot.
Choose accommodation with security in mind
Where you stay decides where your van spends the night. When you are comparing places, ask:
- Is there off-road parking, and is it visible from the building?
- Is the car park lit, gated or covered by cameras?
- Can tools be stored inside the property, and is there a lockable room or garage?
- Will the van be parked somewhere you can see from a bedroom window?
A slightly dearer property with a driveway can be worth more than the difference in price. Add this to the questions in our crew booking checklist.
Park to make theft harder
- Park with the side and rear doors against a wall, a fence or another vehicle where you can, so they cannot be opened fully.
- Choose well-lit spots with people around rather than quiet corners.
- Avoid leaving the van on the street outside the property overnight if there is a safer option nearby.
Take valuable kit indoors
The simplest rule is that expensive, portable tools come inside overnight. Cordless tools, batteries, laser levels and testers are small, valuable and easy to sell on. If the accommodation does not allow tools inside, think twice about booking it for a long job.
Signs on vans saying that no tools are left inside overnight are common. They only help if they are true.
Physical security on the van
- Additional locks on the side and rear doors are widely fitted on trade vans because original locks can be a weak point.
- Lockable steel storage bolted inside the load area slows down a thief who gets in.
- A steering lock or immobiliser makes the van itself less attractive.
- Keep keys away from the front door of the accommodation and out of sight.
Mark and record your tools
- Keep a list of every tool with its make, model and serial number, plus photos.
- Mark tools with your business name or postcode, or use a forensic marking kit.
- Keep the list somewhere other than the van, for example on your phone or in cloud storage.
If the worst happens, this list is what the police and your insurer will ask for first.
Check your insurance before you go
Many policies have conditions about tools left in vehicles overnight, such as time windows or requirements for the van to be locked and the tools out of sight. Some exclude it completely. Read the policy wording or ask your insurer before a job away, especially if you will be parking on a street or in a public car park.
If your van or tools are stolen
- Report it to the police straight away and get a crime reference number.
- Tell your insurer and the accommodation host.
- Give the police your tool list with serial numbers.
- Let your client or main contractor know early if it affects the job.
Looking after the rest of your belongings
In shared houses, keep personal valuables in your room. If several crews or strangers share a property, ask whether bedrooms lock. Agree with your crew who has keys and who locks up last.
For more on choosing a place to stay, compare the types of contractor accommodation, or read our Blackpool and Fylde coast guide if you are working on the coast.