Break In

[Richard Burns]

Sorry to hear that you have been the target of low life thieves stealing a persons livelihood.

I hope you have good luck in finding the kit
and that you are able to continue in business.

 

[SPARTYKUS]

Any new tools you acquire through the insurance, make sure you register them with the manufacturer if extra warranty applies ( I just got a new Makita SDS mains powered and got 3 year warranty),
but also keep receipts and note down serial numbers.

The police can advise on extra security measures too. I think there is a special marker you can get. Ensure you put signs up in the van stating that tools are security marked.

It totally sucks that you got worked over, but you have to take precautions now as they will know that you will get lovely new replacement tools soon, so you may be a special target.

CCTV overlooking the van? I just put a maplins 4 camera system over my whole house and garage, plug and play for sub £500 and that will email and text me if it goes off. Worth thinking about.

Yes, there is, its DNA coded to your address. Its not cheap UNLESS you get it through a neighbourhood watch scheme, then it tumbles from £60 odd quid to £15. It looks like a mascara bottle, with some runny translucent fluid in it. Must remember not to get it mixed up with my other ones -oops

 

[bossian]

Years ago I took out a policy to cover all my tools, all the time in the van or on site. Sold by a rep in my local HSBC branch. Some time after this I awoke one morning to find the rear window removed and all my hand power tools gone. Called insurance company.....

Hi I'd like to make a claim on my tools being stolen...

When did this happen sir?

Sometime between my going bed at 11pm and discovery of van being broken in to at 7AM

I'm sorry sir, but your tools aren't covered between the hours of 9PM and 6AM.....it's in the small print....

Me now loosing the plot......and trying to get the claims guy to wrap his head round the fact I'd be an idiot not to have full protection 24hrs......who in their right mind would have a period in each day the tools weren't insured???

Anyway, lucky for me Mr Plod had knocked a few neighbours and one of them said he'd seen what he thought was me in the back of my van at 6:30......great I thought, but no, insurance guy said they believed I'd got the copper to lie!! Cheek of it!

6 months later, the ombudsman ruled n my favour and they had to pay out.

Lesson....read the sodding small print and NEVER believe what a rep says when selling you something

 

[telectrix]

agreed, most insurers stipulate in the small print "not covered 9pm - 6am", but they don't tell you. what happens if you're out on an emergency call at 2am? not covered.

 

[trev]

All insurers are gits, they'll do anything to get out of paying what might be a perfectly legitimate claim.
About the time of Hurricane Katriana which flooded New Orleans we had some incredibly high winds and we ended up with damage to our roof and a pretty substantial leak. A guy came out from a contractor and said that our insurers should pay up, a few days later a female loss adjuster came out and told Mrs Trev that they wouldn't because the roof showed signs of previous repairs so the damage was not caused by the storm. When I got in from work I rang her and asked where she had served her time as a roofer, she said(obviously) that she hadn't. I then asked what experience she had in roofing and general construction, she replied that she had none. So I asked her what qualified her to comment on the state of our roof and she started waffling. When we got the written confirmation that a pay out would not be made I cancelled every policy we had with them.
The buggers then had the gall to write to us telling us we still owed them several days premium.
If it was not a legal necessity I wouldn't insure very much at all.

 

[shanky887614]

All insurers are gits, they'll do anything to get out of paying what might be a perfectly legitimate claim.
About the time of Hurricane Katriana which flooded New Orleans we had some incredibly high winds and we ended up with damage to our roof and a pretty substantial leak. A guy came out from a contractor and said that our insurers should pay up, a few days later a female loss adjuster came out and told Mrs Trev that they wouldn't because the roof showed signs of previous repairs so the damage was not caused by the storm. When I got in from work I rang her and asked where she had served her time as a roofer, she said(obviously) that she hadn't. I then asked what experience she had in roofing and general construction, she replied that she had none. So I asked her what qualified her to comment on the state of our roof and she started waffling. When we got the written confirmation that a pay out would not be made I cancelled every policy we had with them.
The buggers then had the gall to write to us telling us we still owed them several days premium.
If it was not a legal necessity I wouldn't insure very much at all.

most also dont cover tools if there not locked securely on site

and not covered in van unless it has a thatchen aproved alarm.


best thing you can do is politely remind them that you will take them to court for miss selling it you to and the stress caused, it wont go to court becauae if they let it then it will cost them thousands

a lot of the scum companies try there luck but if you know your rights then they will listen if it is going to hit there pockets

 

[Knobhead]

Sorry to be a wet blanket, why were the tools in the van over night? I know it’s a pain in the arse to take them out of the van and secure them but they are your livelihood. In a secure place you will be covered by your insurance, a van as others have said you will not have that cover.

If you’re van is sign written then I’ve no sympathy what so ever.



Glennsparks put a lot of effort in to tracking his stuff down, it paid off.

 

[driverman]

When I was self employed years ago .Got tools insured..but the insurers insisted that overnight the van /tools were off road and either in a locked compound ( not really suitable with a domestic house) or in a locked garage.

 

[shanky887614]

When I was self employed years ago .Got tools insured..but the insurers insisted that overnight the van /tools were off road and either in a locked compound ( not really suitable with a domestic house) or in a locked garage.

if its in your garage it would be cheaper to add cover through your home insurance (buissness items are not covered on a lot of policies unless you ask for it and a max value on individual items)

 

[Plonker 3]

I have got my tools insured 24/7 on my van at a very good price with these, also covers anywhere in mainland on my van too which is very useful working in shopfitting.

http://www.tradeinsure.trade.co.uk

 

[gnuuser]

treat the lock and handles with powdered crystal iodine it leaves a dark brown to purple stain in the skin that takes weeks to wear out
makes it easy to find who took stuff

 

[gazj82]

When I worked for my Uncle, someone stole all our cable from our stores in broad daylight. It was all on CCTV, the Police caught them and we got all our cable back (about 6 months later mind). They got away with it though, apparently unsifficient evidence!!!

 

[trev]

A well known local burglar broke into my mother's house shortly after she died, again there was insufficient evidence. I know loads of cops, one of them told me it was definitely him.
He "fell over" a week or so later

 

[vernam616]

One of the best ways is to link the van up to your house alarm system

we have done this for customers in the past, RISCO Gardtec GT600 Hybrid System with wireless expander for up to 8 zones, buy a wireless pir or wireless shock and mount it onto a wooden board that you can stand up in the back of your van, the only pitfall is that you must remember to take the detector in the house when you go to work as the panel will be looking for the PIR and throw a fault

 

[shanky887614]

One of the best ways is to link the van up to your house alarm system

we have done this for customers in the past, RISCO Gardtec GT600 Hybrid System with wireless expander for up to 8 zones, buy a wireless pir or wireless shock and mount it onto a wooden board that you can stand up in the back of your van, the only pitfall is that you must remember to take the detector in the house when you go to work as the panel will be looking for the PIR and throw a fault

seperate alarm in van would be a good idea, with keyfob to activate/disable