Van Alarms Archives | Van Lock Solutionz

August 1, 2021

What is Thatcham Approved or Thatcham Accredited?

Thatcham Research has been at the very front of Vehicle Security from around the 1990s when it introduced the New Vehicle Security Assesment (NVSA) to addressdifferent levels of vehicle crime and attacks they then launched Thatcham accreditations into categories for such products as alarms and immobiliser systems that is now widely recognised glabally.

Thatcham devices such as alarms, immobilisers, trackers and other vehicle security devices that are assessed by Thatcham Research. They give these devices a Thatcham Security Certification after an assessment of their functions and features and they can then put them into Thatcham Categories, the devices are then commonly referred to as ‘Thatcham Approved’.

Following Thatcham Research’s change in classification there are now seven Categories

Thatcham Category 1 – An Alarm and Immobiliser
Thatcham Category 2 – Electronic Immobiliser
Thatcham Category 2/1 – An upgraded Alarm system
Thatcham Category 3 – Mechanical Immobilisers
Thatcham Category 4 – Wheel locking devices such as Clamps etc
Thatcham Category S5- Tracking and Recovery System
Thatcham Category S7 – Locating the Stolen Vehicle
Q Class systems – Non-categorised aftermarket systems

This is why Thatcham Approved systems are our first port of call when fitting security systems. We DO NOT fit any Alarm system lower then a Thatcham Category 2/1 system & we DO NOT fot any tracking systems other the thatcham accredited trackers.

If you would like to know what we can offer regarding top state of the art security systems, please contact us via Message, Email or Telephone

Vehicle Relay Attack, Keyless Theft and Key Cloning

March 16, 2021

Van Deadlocks Van Alarms

Key Cloning, Keyless Theft & Relay Attacks

But all my vehicles have an immobiliser as standard from factory?!

When people call up about security to the vehicles whether it be a quad bike, a car, vans even Heavy Goods vehicles we often (not always) advise on a decent immobiliser. But why, when they have just purchased one from a well known national garage and they said it has a thatcham approved or factory immobiliser? Thefts of motor vehicles are getting ever more common now, with the methods of entry now being non-destructive, whereas many years back there were such attacks like hotwiring to name one which were very destructive. Thieves can now gain entry and take a car in under a minute and sometimes make it look like they have got a key its made to look that easy.

Rising Vehicle Crime in UK

Chop shops across the UK are getting as common as chip shops, especially through this pandemic… crime is rising statistics show. Police are warning against opportunist thieves looking to steal vehicles to replace auto parts because of manufacturers shutting down and there being a shortage in the supply chain. Vehicles stolen by chop shops are often left for days to check its not being tracked, before its taken to the garage where its ID is changed and/or its high value parts are then sold on. With restrictions in place, people deep cleaning there vehicles whilst off work in the pandemic and not using the vehicles half as much if not at all.. people were getting out of habit of checking and locking doors also making sure there keys were away and out of sight.

92% of the vehicles recovered last year were stolen without the thieves having possession of the keys a common method we call Key Cloning attack.

What is Key Cloning, Keyless Theft or Relay Attack?

Okay, so what is key cloning? Key cloning also known as keyless car theft and relay attacks happens where the signal given off by the original keys/remote is picked up, often by one thief walking around the perimeter of the property while the other thief is stood near the vehicle waiting t receive the signal. This is the reason factory fit immobilisers are getting overridden whereas aftermarket ones can not be attacked the same way, a faraday case are priceless also for this attack a simple £15 case may be the difference between keeping or losing the vehicle.. but the we are back to this switching off and not double checking we are locking or using such devices during the lockdown period.

Affordable Vehicle Security

Our immobilisers start from £240 including vat fitted on site – here’s a few cost saving thing you can do instead of or as well as the immobilisers

Wheel protection – Put a steering wheel lock on or a allow wheel lock
Have you a garage? Use it!
Keep valuable out of sight, this may stop peering eyes
Is it locked? Rather then waiting until you are at your front door then pressing and waiting for the hazards to flash.. why not lock it the try the handle?
Why not budget for security like you budget for the vehicle itself? Thats just as important and very little people factor this into the cost of buying a new vehicle

If you would like any further information on thefts like relay attacks, why not call or message us for more in-depth advice.

February 22, 2021

Van Deadlocks Van Alarms

Van Locks vs Van Alarms

Okay, so over the many years of fitting vehicle security there is not many people that want both an alarm and additonal security locks. We believe this is down to personal preference and beliefs on what actually works, heard horror story, knowledge etc over the cost of the alarm.

You will get your vehicle owner that prefers alarms, there argument will be that by the time somebody has noticed any noise or wrong doing with thieves attacking the locks they will be in and off with your tools without being noticed. On the flip side you will get your Van locks guy stating nobody listens to alarms even when they go off whether it be domestic or Automotive and the manufacturers locks are that easy to gain entry to why would you not put another source of physical security in its way? More often then not people that have been broken into like to put all they can on with the haunting of another loss over there heads. With arguments for both side is there a right and a wrong? We believe strongly in layers, I know, I know we sound like a broken record. The more layers the more chance you have of keeping the valuables your trying to secure right? As anything, it all boils down to budget, you have to prioritise. With the average thatcham approved alarm costing the same as a high security lock package its either one or the other for your average tradesman, with either been better by far than nothing in place which benefits would stick out to you more if you had to choose?

Benefits of the two

Visible Detterent

The van locks have a decent presence and with the bright flashing LED status light of the alarm usually seen on or around the windscreen of the cab area, although we have made such a status with some of the discreet places we have put the LEDs from front to rear visibility. You do not have to have just the one!

Peel Protection

We fit the van locks as high as physically possible to protect against such attacks. We can also fit additional pin switches to the top of the doors to trigger the alarm when as little as your finger ends peer over the them, a really nice discreet protection if you are more inclined to say like some do”if they see the van locks they are going to think there is something worth having”.

Panel Protection

If the panel is pierced or banged on more often then not (alarm choice dependant) the alarm will trigger, whereas the locks are door protection.

Door Protection

Both are great security items. If a door is opened the alarm will trigger but more often then not that door open often say they will all open meaning the valuable placed with the cargo area will be gone within seconds. The locks more specifically the hooklocks will put up more of an engaged attack for such attacks like crowbars and peeling.

Window Protection

It goes without saying the locks will not protect against a smashed panel but what they will protect against is somebody smashing a panel to then try pull the internal handle which does not often work as the manufacturers locks are deadlocked. If a pane is smashed the alarm will trigger immediately

Tool Theft Statistics

With tool theft up by 30+% and Yorkshire and West Midlands been the worst hit do not be ‘that guy’ that does not move forward with security knowing this. It is not a sales pitch the stats are all over the internet and more often then not all over then news. Over 7 years ago when we started Solutionz (Bradford) Ltd there was not that urge to secure vans which van locks really, its only over the last 2 maybe 3 years that the crime epidemic has got out of hand. Items are manufactured to repair or replace destructive entries, unfortunately, by the time these are produced savvy thieves have moved onto the next destructive entry.

Top 10 Worst Hit Areas in 2017

Top Tips for Van Security

Can you store your tools inside? If you are parked in a Hotel Car Park try to take out your tools after your days work. If you are parked away from the sight in a multistory car park try put your tools on site in a lock box for the day

When Parking try to keep in a well-lit busy area rather then dark unknown area.

Probably the easiest one this, mark all your tools with an engraver or ultraviolet pen. Try something unique like your postcode over initials

Are you insured? A question most tragedies do not know the answer to unless they have taken out additional insurance. Do not always presume your household insurance will cover the tools, CHECK.