Protecting your van has never been more important with van thefts on the rise. Your tools and equipment are expensive and a simple CCTV system installed in your van can not only protect your equipment but can protect you personally when driving.

With social media videos going viral and the news currently focused on van theft, protecting your livelihood has never been so big. Small businesses are suffering from this 'epidemic' of van tool thefts and this news article states it's due to a new skeleton key.

Van owners are being forced to look at additional security when leaving their vehicles unguarded or face the reality of not having work the following day.

Figures as high as one van every 23 minutes is broken into in the UK and that is a 30% increase on the previous year. 

One study showed that individuals a few years ago would apply pressure on the van door with their knees before peeling the door down from the top. It has now taken an even scarier turn as these thieves are using electronic key fobs to break into vehicles and show no signs of damage (these fobs are being sold for £30 on stores such as Amazon and eBay).

When installing CCTV security onto a sprinter or vito van we will usually offer either the 8 channel SURE MDVR or a Timespace recorder such as their 8 channel DVRV400. The SURE MDVR offers either 4 or 8 channels of analogue high-definition which captures video at 720p or higher. 

These recorders are E-Marked meaning they meet all vehicle electronic standards and come with software which makes them capable of live viewing video and vehicle tracking.

The Timespace recorder can offer up to 16 channels of standard analogue recording. 1 channel of 1080p HD IP recording and up to 4TB of hard-drive storage space, however, 16 channels is unecessary for this vehicle size,

The digital video recorder uses H.264 compression to reduce file sizes to a fraction of their original size whilst maintaining video quality. The Timespace products are fully compatible with LANLink and PCLink meaning footage can be easily reviewed and this product is e-marked meaning it can be put onto vehicles with all the correct approvals.

The driver's cab and the rear storage of a vehicle are often fitted with a more compact cab camera. The benefit of using the cab cameras is that the footage recorded is captured in high-definition and is easily connected to our MDVR range for quick installation. This means you are able to identify people entering and exiting the vehicle as well as monitoring the driver's behaviour whilst operating a van, HGV or taxi.

On the SURE Transport website, we offer CCTV kits that have been pre-built for van and HGV use. We offer two 4 camera kits, one with a hard-drive and one which uses SD cards. For more information click here

• Compact Camera

• Integration with Other On-Board Systems

• High-Definition Recording (HD)

• Tilt Adjustment for Ideal Recording Angles

• IP67 Weatherproofing

• Plug and Play / Easy Installation

• Lightweight

A driver's monitor is a compact monitor which is often located in the driver cab of a bus or coach and is mounted to the overhead area. Drivers monitors are used by the driver to monitor both the passenger entrance and exit doors to ensure everyone is safe when entering or leaving the vehicle. 

Another function of the driver monitor is that, alike modern domestic cars, when reverse is selected in the vehicle the driver will be able to see live footage of the surrounding obstacles through the rear camera. 

Often, SURE Transport will supply a 5" Vigilant Vision monitor as these are popular in the vehicle industry, are e-marked, remote operated and extremely compact.

A lot of this advice is all dependant on the customer and what they aim to capture with their vehicle cameras. The typical van layout we recommend can be seen on the picture labeled (Sprinter CCTV layout).

The ideal amount of cameras would be between 3-5 for a van of this size. Ideally, you'd want one camera on the rear of the vehicle, one on the front and one protecting the goods being transported in the van.

The optional extras could be either mounted on the sides of the vehicle or positioned facing the driver to ensure they weren't distracted at the time of an event, such as a crash. 

Video footage can be recorded using either standard analogue, analogue high definition or internet protocol (IP) cameras. The AHD and IP cameras we offer are 720p+ and can be found on the equipment page of our website.

With typical van space, most fleets would only require a 4 channel DVR system. If more cameras are needed you can get up to 9 cameras in HD quality using the MDVR equipment found here. 

The Timespace DVRs we provide don't offer high definition recording, however, these can offer from 16-24 channels making them capable of handling more cameras than the MDVR range and generally better for the bus and coach market.

If you have chosen to go down the route of a HD capable DVR then you would probably look to install one of our AHD dome cameras. 

The only differentiation between the two main cameras we provide, is that one offers infrared 940nm covert recording. What this means is that it can record clear footage at night with zero red glow and often makes it the better option for the outside of a vehicle.

Another option with HD capability would be the miniature cab cameras 'SV6' or the 'ST815'. 

Accessories in a van are just nice to have but not essential. If you wanted 4G in your vehicle to view live footage then that's possible. If you required a driver or passenger monitor then we could install this also. If you want to see our range available then click here

"Leicestershire Police is warning local van owners to be vigilant after a recent increase in tool theft from vans.

Van owners are being urged to follow these simple steps to prevent them from becoming a victim:

• if you are staying in a hotel, where possible remove your tools from your van and keep them in your room overnight
• don't assume your vehicle has locked properly using a key fob lock. Criminals can use devices which block the signal. Always check your doors are locked before leaving your vehicle unattended
• if you have a garage, use it. If your van is parked on a driveway, consider installing security lighting. If neither of these applies, try to park in well-lit areas
• consider alarming the vehicle or fitting an internal security cage when tools and equipment are not being used, ensure they are kept securely in a lockable store rather than in your vehicle
• consider whether the storage area can be alarmed. If the equipment is portable, take it with you
• don’t leave tools in vehicles unattended or overnight, and place a sign in the window stating they have been removed
• lock/immobilise vehicles and equipment when not in use
• visibly mark your machinery and tools using an engraving or chemical etching kit or use a forensic marking kit. Place a sticker in your window to say you have done so - the signage alone can be a very effective deterrent
• keep a list of tools, together with serial numbers and any identifying marks. You can do this at immobilise.com. This will help to trace them back to you if they are recovered
• consider the use of security patrols around building sites
• keep the access to building sites secure – fences and gates help prevent unauthorised entry
• if you have any suspicious visitors on your site please call the Police non-emergency number 101."