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sign of a break in. What's worse about this is that these devices are completely legal and can be bought online for only a small fee. To help prevent this from happening, try to avoid storing your keys close to your front door or windows. Although this will not completely prevent thieves from picking up the signal, it can make it a lot harder. It can also help to invest in a signal blocker pouch (also called a Faraday pouch) for your keys. These are usually made from a flexible metallic fabric that can block the signal from your keys and prevent it from being replicated. Remove tools overnight A lot of your tools would be costly to replace, so make sure you empty your van before finishing for the day, especially the very expensive ones. It can also help to deter thieves if you place a sticker or sign somewhere on your van to let people know that tools aren't left inside overnight. It's also worth making a note of the serial numbers on all of your tools and marking them with a fluorescent marker. That way, if anything does happen, you can give these serial numbers to the police. Then, if they turn up somewhere else, they can be recovered and sent back to you. Conclusions Your tools are your livelihood, which means that if they get stolen, the effects could be devastating. By following the tips in this guide, you can help to protect your van from thieves and keep your livelihood safe. DECEMBER/JANUARY 2020 AFTERMARKET 57 www.aftermarketonline.net Secure your locks You should always lock the doors of your van when it's not in use, even if you're only leaving it for a short while. Although this sounds obvious, it's easy to forget when you're busy tending to a call-out or you're shutting up shop for the night. Plus, forgetting to lock your van doors could invalidate your insurance policy if anything does happen. You should also add an extra element of security to your locks as an added form of defence against lock pickers. There are a few different types of lock protection that you can use: Lock protection plates: These are the cheapest option and will cover the original lock with a metal plate. This makes it more difficult and time consuming for a thief to break into, so they're more likely to be deterred or give up Deadlocks: These are separate to the original locking mechanism and can only be locked and unlocked using a key. They work in a similar way to a deadbolt on your front door and can provide additional security if you're leaving your van out overnight Slamlocks: These are usually integrated with the original locking mechanism and will automatically lock the door as it closes. These are a better option if you'll need to make multiple trips to your van when carrying heavy tools, as they don't give thieves a chance to target the van while you're gone Stoplocks: These link both of your rear van doors, or your side door and van body, together and can only be opened with a key. This makes it harder for thieves to break into the lock, even with a crowbar, so they're a great option if your van has particularly weak or vulnerable lock. Protect your key fob The worrying thing is that criminals are getting more sophisticated with their break in methods. If your van has keyless entry, there have been a lot of recent thefts which are made possible by replicating the signal from your key fob with a system called relay theft. To do this, one criminal will have a device that intercepts the signal from your keys. They will stand close to your house so that the device can pick up the signal, while another criminal stands by your car with a device that replicates the signal. This will then let them open your van door without any