• 3,314 vans were stolen in London between September 2021 and August 2022
• 1,773 vans were stolen from the street and 101 were taken from driveways
• Van thefts peaked at 354 in November 2021, compared to an average of 276 per month

3,314 vans were stolen in London over the past year, according to new data from Direct Line business insurance¹. This equates to nine thefts each day between September 2021 and August 2022.

Broken down by remit, 3,302 vans were stolen in areas that fall under the Metropolitan Police’s jurisdiction, while 12 were stolen in locations patrolled by the City of London Police – a total of 3,314. However, the number of van thefts decreased slightly year-on-year by 140 from 3,454.

Most vans (1,773) were stolen from the street, with 101 being taken from driveways, 1028 stolen from unknown locations and 412 vans taken from other locations including offices, car parks, garages and hospitals. Van thefts were highest in November 2021 (354 vans) – 78 higher than the monthly average of 276 – and lowest in July 2022 when 202 vans were stolen. 

*Van thefts in London from September 2021 to August 2022, and September 2020 to August 2021. Information obtained via a Freedom of Information request.

Malkit Sihra, Van Product Manager at Direct Line business insurance said: “Vans are essential for many businesses across London and the rest of the country. Disruption is stressful, and we know that tradespeople lose, on average, £1,427 each working week from lost business when their van is stolen, damaged or written off.² It is important that those who rely on their vans for business remove any expensive tools and equipment when parking overnight. Our small courtesy van as standard offering also helps provide peace of mind and keeps van customers on the road if their van is stolen.”

Direct Line business insurance provides a small courtesy van as standard to support customers if their van is stolen, damaged, or written off. This is provided until their van is ready for the road again, if repairs are undertaken by one of Direct Line’s approved repairers. Customers who use their own repairer, or whose van is stolen or written off, will be given a small courtesy van for up to 21 days in a row. 

 

*Van thefts in London from September 2021 to August 2022, and September 2020 to August 2021. Information obtained via a Freedom of Information request. Please see Notes to Editors for full breakdown on all other location types³.

-ENDS-

(1)    Data collected from a Freedom of Information (FOI) request to the Metropolitan and City of London Police forces, for van thefts from September 2021 until August 2022, and also September 2020 until August 2021.

(2)    Opinium survey of 250 tradespeople in the UK adults, conducted 25^th-28^th July 2022.

(3)    *The data provided in the second table above relates to the following location types:  Alleyway, Footpath, Building Site, Bus/Coach Station, Cafes, Car Accessory Shop, Car Sales, Car/Lorry Park-Other, Council Owned, Department Store, Detached, Dock, Estate Agents, Factory/workshop, Flat/Maisonette, Garage-Domestic, Garage-Lock Up, Garage - Other, Garage - Repairs, Ground Level Car Park - Covered, Ground Level Car Park - Uncovered, Hospital, Hostel/Res Home, Hotel/Guesthouse, House/Bungalow, Industrial Estate, Lorry Park, Mobile Residence, Multi-Storey Car Park, News/Tobacco/Book Shop, Office(s), Other Open Space, Other Residence, Other Shop, Outbuilding-Business, Park/Common/Heath, Petrol Station, Post Office,  Private-Not for General Public, Private - Open to General Public/Customer, Privately Owned, Pub/Bar/Nightclub, Public House, School/Nursery, Semi-Detached, Stall/Kiosk, Storage/Warehouse, Super/Hypermarket, Terraced, Underground Car Park, Victim Unsure.

 

Direct Line Group

Unni Henry

PR Manager

Email: [email protected]

About Direct Line business insurance

Launched in 2007 Direct Line business insurance now has over half a million customer policies, providing a flexible range of insurance products for the landlord, van and small business sectors.

Direct Line business insurance policies are underwritten by U K Insurance Limited, Registered office: The Wharf, Neville Street, Leeds LS1 4AZ. Registered in England and Wales No 1179980. U K Insurance Limited is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority.

Direct Line business insurance and U K Insurance limited are both part of Direct Line Insurance Group plc.

Customers can find out more about Direct Line business insurance products or get a quote by calling 0345 301 4827 or visiting https://www.directlineforbusiness.co.uk