Autumn is therefore a sensible time to take another look at your van security.
Tool theft is a year-round problem, but reduced daylight can create more opportunities for thieves to operate under the cover of darkness. West Midlands Police has previously reported seeing an increase in reports of vans, cars and bikes being stolen from driveways and car parks during darker mornings and evenings.
And with new research highlighting just how frequently trade vehicles are being targeted, now is a good time to check whether you’re doing everything practical to protect your van and the tools you rely on.
More Than Half of Tool Thefts Involve Vans
New research released by Wickes in September 2026 found that vans account for more than half – 55% – of tool thefts.
The research also found vehicles were being targeted in a variety of locations, including outside homes overnight (29%), on site (21%) and outside stores (16%).
For tradespeople, that reinforces an important point: van security isn’t something to think about only when you’re working on site.
The van parked outside your house at the end of the day deserves just as much consideration.
Darker Evenings Can Provide More Opportunity
By late autumn, a van that was previously being unloaded in daylight could be sitting outside in darkness for much of the evening.
Police forces have regularly advised motorists to take additional precautions during the darker months. West Mercia Police, for example, has warned that darker nights can provide more opportunities for vehicle thieves and recommends measures including security lighting and cameras around driveways.
That doesn’t mean every van suddenly becomes a target as soon as the clocks change.
It does mean that autumn provides a useful reminder to look at your routine and ask whether there are weaknesses you could address.
Where do you leave your van overnight? Is the area illuminated? Can somebody easily approach the loading doors without being seen? And, perhaps most importantly, what might they expect to find inside?
Start With the Most Valuable Things in Your Van
For many tradespeople, the answer is their tools.
Wickes’ wider tool theft research found that 38% of UK tradespeople surveyed had experienced tool theft, with the average value of stolen equipment exceeding £2,500 per person.
That’s why removing valuable tools from your van overnight, whenever practical, remains one of the most straightforward precautions you can take.
It’s also worth keeping an up-to-date record of your equipment, including photographs, serial numbers and identifying marks.
Tool marking is receiving considerable attention in 2026. Wickes has pledged to mark 260,000 tools for free across the UK this year as part of its campaign to tackle tool theft.
Think About Where You Park
A few changes to where and how you park can also make a difference.
Where possible, choose a well-lit location where your van can be seen from your property or covered by CCTV.
You may also be able to position rear or side loading doors close to a wall, fence or another suitable obstruction, making them more difficult to access.
Security lighting can be particularly useful as the nights draw in. Motion-activated lighting removes some of the cover provided by darkness and can make somebody approaching your vehicle much more noticeable.
Check Your Existing Van Security
Autumn is also a good opportunity to inspect the security measures you already have.
Are additional locks working correctly? Is your alarm functioning as it should? Are security cameras covering the van properly? Are there any signs of wear or damage around doors, locks or handles?
If you use physical security devices, don’t simply assume they’re still doing their job because they’ve been fitted for several years.
A quick check now could identify something that needs attention before winter.
An Empty Van Can Still Look Worth Targeting
There is another problem that becomes particularly relevant when a van is sitting outside overnight.
You may have removed every expensive tool.
But somebody outside the van doesn’t know that.
From the pavement, a closed work van could contain thousands of pounds’ worth of power tools and equipment.
Or it could be completely empty.
Unless somebody can see inside, they’re left guessing.
And that’s where removing your tools doesn’t necessarily remove the risk of damage to the van itself.
A thief who forces a lock or damages a door before discovering an empty load area may leave without taking anything, but you’re still left dealing with the repair.
Make It Obvious There’s Nothing Worth Taking
Van Eye approaches this part of van security differently.
Rather than simply making it harder for somebody to enter the van, it helps remove the uncertainty about what’s inside.
A 220° fisheye lens provides a view into the load area, while an internal 30W COB LED illuminates the space when somebody approaches and looks through the lens.
If you’ve taken your tools indoors for the night, they can see you’ve already beaten them to it.
There are no tools to find and no prize waiting behind the doors.
Van Eye should be used alongside sensible van-security measures rather than as a replacement for good locks, alarms, lighting or responsible tool storage.
Don’t Wait Until Winter to Think About Van Security
The arrival of darker evenings is a useful reminder that the environment around your van is changing.
Review where you park. Check your locks and security equipment. Improve lighting where possible. Record and mark your tools. And if you can, remove valuable equipment from the van overnight.
Then consider the van from the perspective of somebody standing outside.
You know it’s empty. Make sure they know it too.
With darker nights on the way, now is a good time to add Van Eye to your van security.
