Deadlock Installation, a case study.
As in this case, with many security products a lot of customers will only invest in them if they have previously been victims of theft or know someone very close to them who has been. Consequently, we are often called upon after the event and ideally, we’d like to change this wherever possible.
About 6 months ago we were asked to install deadlocks after a customers’ van had been broken into and he had lost in the region of £5k’s worth of tools. Clearly not happy, the customer wanted to prevent this from happening again. We discovered that although the thieves broke in through the vulnerable drivers’ door lock, he wasn’t so bothered about them getting into the cab, it was his tools he wanted to protect. Therefore, we fitted deadlocks to his rear and side loading doors.
This week, someone again tried to break into his van and steal his tools, but this time the deadlocks prevented them from gaining access. As you’ll see from the image, they have created a lot of damage attempting to get in, but this is covered under his insurance. Whilst it’s an inconvenience to get repaired, he is still able to go to work and earn money instead of having to go out and buy more tools. Often it is the tools which are not insurable and therefore, the biggest cost in the event of a break-in. Some insurance companies are now offering a discounted premium if deadlocks are installed, so this is something to consider when deciding which lock should be installed on your vehicle for security.
Often the sight of the deadlock would prevent anyone from trying to break in, but on this occasion when it hasn’t deterred them, it is good to see it has protected the customers’ tools and even his livelihood.
It is just as important that when choosing a deadlock, it is installed by a professional. Previously we have witnessed some very poor instillations which have not been able to resist the type of attack that was carried out on this customers van. It is these poorly installed deadlocks which leads thieves to believe they will be able to get around them, however a properly installed system should stand up against a break-in attempt.
Ultimately, any security product can be bypassed if someone is given enough time and opportunity. For example, we’ve seen someone take an angle grinder and cut the side of the van away. However, these kinds of attacks are less common as you would hope someone would hear or see them attempting the break in!
Often overlooked is the collateral damage caused by theft from vans. Sadly, we had one customer whose business failed because he was unable to complete a contract in time, after all his tools were stolen. He was then hit with contractual penalties for being overdue which ultimately ended up in his business failing.
Obviously this is not something any business owner would want to experience and here at Van Guard we really encourage van owners and businesses to consider the installation of professional locks to their vehicles. Professional locks protect not only belongings but the business as a whole, helping to prevent the above happen to others.