Commercial vehicle hire schemes with Transits 'should be most aware of thieves'
Commercial vehicle hire customers who opt to run a light fleet including Ford Transits should be aware that it was the most common vehicle stolen during the last year.
Vans which are part of a fleet could be particularly susceptible to thieves, as the lack of a regular driver means keys can often be left inside and doors remain unlocked.
It is not just brand new vehicles which are part of a commercial vehicle hire programme that are at risk, as statistics from the Association of Chief Police Officers Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service (AVCIS) reveal.
The average age of the 150,000 vehicles stolen was 11 years - and the recovery rate for these vans, trucks and lorries is particularly low.
As such, prevention rather than cure could be the aim for thousands of commercial vehicle hire users.
Detective chief inspector Mark Hooper, head of AVCIS, suggests: "Include your company's security instructions in the driver's introduction to the company and driver's handbook. Use photo identification cards for drivers and keep signed photos of all your drivers for your personal records."
Ford is working to make its vehicles more difficult to steal, but in the meantime fleet solutions bosses may wish to follow the advice of AVCIS to help minimise the risk of losing vehicles.
Ensuring that fleet drivers never leave the keys in the vehicle when it is unattended is arguably the most important tactic to deploy immediately - and may be especially important when making deliveries.
This can be backed up by requesting that staff wear identification and challenge anybody who is unknown.
Another piece of advice AVCIS offers involves all staff at a company which has signed a commercial vehicle hire contract - from fleet solutions managers to drivers and all those in between.
It is to avoid speaking of inside information, intended routes and driver information in environments where it could be overheard or used to plan a theft - in short, firms should adopt a 'need to know' policy.
According to the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA), a subsidiary of the Department for Transport, just 12% of HGVs taken are returned.
More than half of reported incidents take place at the premises of a commercial vehicle hire scheme user - perhaps illustrating the importance of securing headquarters as well as educating drivers on how to keep a vehicle safe when it is on the road.
VOSA suggests there are other methods which can be employed by firms looking to protect their vehicles - such as keeping daily routines "unpredictable" and remaining within sight as much of the time as possible.
Finally, fleet solutions bosses should consider the benefits of being precise and double-checking when making collections and deliveries.
Ensuring a load seal is intact, checking quantities and weights are as expected and making sure the person being dealt with is genuine could all go some way to preventing a vehicle being targeted.
Reacting to the safety hints and tips, Mr Hooper adds: "Include your company's security instructions in the driver's introduction to the company and driver's handbook. Contracts should make clear that drivers will face disciplinary proceedings or dismissal if they fail to carry out these duties."
Narrowly behind the Ford Transit as 2009's most stolen vehicle was the Ford Fiesta, the Vauxhall Astra and the Vauxhall Corsa, while the next most popular van among thieves was the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter.