Van sign writing security

[rth_discos]

I've looked at a number of posts where people think that having a van sign written is a security risk, ie, there may be a higher chance of the van being broken in to because the sign writing highlights what is inside the van.

So for this post, no speculation, just facts please:

1: Have you had your van broken in to (even if it was an attempted break in and nothing was stolen). Was your van sign written or not?

2: Is your van sign written? If so, have you had any attempted break ins to the vans?

Hopefully this will pull out some facts, rather than assumptions :)

[Benny Smyth]

Personally never happened to me, but I have a friend who lost about £11k worth of kit after someone knicked his van three weeks after it was sign written. Whether the sign writing had anything to do with it, we'll never know for certain.

[mattydj50]

And for the opposite view, my mate recently had his van stolen with three sets of gear in and it wasn't sign written.

[ukpartydj]

Con:
Easy to identify which van contains the DJ equipment (if it does) which may make your van a target.

Pro:
You have a unique van, if somebody steals it they would need to be quick and clever to avoid getting caught as it'll stick out like a sore thumb.

My van has been signwritten for 4 years and I've not seen anything to suggest an interest has been taken in my van, however I am very keen on security and therefore it's not a attractive prospect for a amateur thieves.

[ppentertainments]

Serious answer - I don't have my van sign written because I don't want everyone to know what I do.

We have a static caravan where I spend most of my summer and occasionally have to take the van. Everyone on the caravan site (which has a pub attached) thinks I work at the DWP :)

[Shakermaker Promotions]

I've mentioned this before.

When I lived in Basingstoke my van was parked around the corner and out of sight and it worried me at times because if I was doing 2 nights in a row I would generally leave the equipment in the van apart from my main playout system. Thankfully nothing ever happened to any of the vans I had that I parked there in 20 years. It was a quiet area really although everybody knew what I did for a living (I had a few bookings from people who lived in the area that knew what I did because they'd seen me loading and unloading and popped over and asked if I was free on such and such a date).

I never thought of having the van sign written back then because of the fact I was parked around the corner.

What I DID do was design some magnetic signs and I'd put them on the van when I was driving to and from bookings, to customer meetings or when I was parked at a wedding fair.

Where I am living now, it is a quiet little village and my van is literally parked on my drive. Not that I would do it but I could leave the equipment in the van with the doors unlocked because it is very unlikely anything would happen. Because where I was before wasn't ideal, I'd tend to leave some stuff in the van more often than not. Now, I have a massive insulated shed where I store it all and the van backs right up to it so there is no chance anybody could grab my stuff....(I still keep my main playout system in my office along with a pair of Mackies because of the current drop in temperature - that's another thread probably).

As for stuff getting nicked - I know quite a few people actually that have unfortunately been victims of theft and I can't imagine what it must feel like going to your lock up or van and finding everything gone.
I know of one guy who was DJing regularly at a pub. He'd DJ on a Friday and Saturday and everybody knew that he'd leave his equipment there overnight.
This happened about 10 years ago but he'd done the Friday night and when he went back on the Saturday he was told by the landlord that the pub had been broken into. The strange thing was, apparently there were no signs of a break in but the equipment had gone.
This was a friend of mine actually and he was told he was no longer required that day but the pub didn't get anyone else in to DJ but continued to have Discos. It was all very suspect but my friend couldn't prove anything as the landlord was a very dodgy bloke.

[ckpr2]

I have never left gear in a van over night.
It was always unloaded at he end of the night into a locked garage.
In later years I kept it in the house as that was more secure.

I either used a car or car and trailer for moving gear.
Neither were sign written.

[rth_discos]

Just to add, I never leave equipment in the van - but the potential burglar doesn't know what's in the van - I'd rather not have the hassle of finding the van broken in to, even though the van was empty.

[Shakermaker Promotions]

A few years ago when I was DJing regularly at a lovely pub in a village around 15 miles outside Basingstoke, there was a spate of thefts.
People were getting pulled over in their nice cars by some randoms. They were beaten and left on the side of the road as the randoms sped off in their cars.
I was working for a friend full-time back then and driving his sign written van.
It was a Friday night and I had just finished. I'd been pulled over by the police 2 weeks on the trot for an on the spot breath test and on this occasion I thought it was the 3rd week in a row.

A car flashed its headlights behind me and I pulled over, thinking it was the police but when I saw 2 guys approaching either side of the van I had a thought that I may be a victim. I know some of you may be thinking that it could have been plain clothes officers in an unmarked car but I didn't think that at the time. My initial thought was that it didn't look right so I put my foot down and drove off. I didn't get followed so I guess I was right but that was pretty scary.

I don't think the car-jacking thing happens much these days but it just goes to show that some people don't care if you're parked up or not.

[yourdj]

Several times I caught people hanging about my van considering to break into it or not. Definitely considering breaking into it! One couple of lads had a staffy or similar and soon started walking away with malice when i looked pretty hacked off with them, but what the did not realise as I returned was I had a rotweiller & a german shepherd in the back of mine, so would have got a shock. :)

Vans = might av tools to sell daun da pub mush
And with DJ signs = even more reason to break in.

This is one of a very few times I ventured in to southampton, so depends where you intend to store or park you van, when loaded. My Carpark at home is pretty much crime free in 10 years. Try looking at a magnetic one if your not sure as you can take that off.

[yourdj]

A car flashed its headlights behind me and I pulled over, thinking it was the police but when I saw 2 guys approaching either side of the van I had a thought that I may be a victim.

Jacking a fully loaded DJ van is dead easy for the right people and an instant £5-10,000!

Only the one usually gets out (never seen two people as you may drive off - I guess its protocol unless your a threat), so you probably made a very savvy move there. I know its paranoia, but you always have to be on guard as you never know, especially when driving nice cars. We almost got mugged on a night out in Southampton. The guy was pretending to be polish and live in Blackfield. What he did not bank on was that i lived up the road from Blackfield and speak Polish. Total diffusion to put you off your game, I knew what he was doing and he knew it so went, probably back to his gang in waiting (he was clearly the little runt). Scary though, when you are all alone with your wife!

[Spirits High]

I've had my van sign written now from the day I got it about 4years ago now and ironically it was broken into for the first and only time just last week!

The back was empty and all they got from the cab was a satnav & dashcam. It was parked directly outside the house where it's always parked. It seems that the reason it was done was that they could get in on the blindside as on the opposite side of the road are fields so no view of that side of the van from the houses. One of the very few if only time I've parked it that way around with the side door away from the house.

They must have had a key or similar as the alarm (factory fitted) didn't go off! It's now had its security beefed up and ironically the security consultant said it was the 3rd vivaro / trafic he had booked in that week that had been broken into on a similar scenario. So it looks though they were being targetted.

Like I said this is the only time in 4 years of having it sign written that I've had any issues. I won't be un-signwriting it as I think the pros outweigh the cons!

[yourdj]

One of the very few if only time I've parked it that way around with the side door away from the house.
!

Bet they had been watching it. Seems too much like a coincidence.
Install some CCTV and lighting if I were you.

[Spirits High]

Bet they had been watching it. Seems too much like a coincidence.
Install some CCTV and lighting if I were you.

Not so sure, think it was just unlucky. Looking at CCTV options at the moment but as for lighting there's 3 streetlights outside so they were virtually in daylight when they did it.....Cheeky little things!

[Nakatomi]

Not so sure, think it was just unlucky. Looking at CCTV options at the moment but as for lighting there's 3 streetlights outside so they were virtually in daylight when they did it.....Cheeky little things!

having worked for a company who makes CCTV cameras & recorders - and having had CCTV cameras around my house and still been burgled I'll give you this advice:

CCTV isn't a deterrent. Floodlighting is, as is a good loud (and reliable) alarm system.

CCTV also isn't much good for identifying perps either - especially at night unless they're lit up really brightly. And no, don't bother with IR illumination either. It's good for showing that something happened in total darkness, but identifying who & what.. not so much.

[Spirits High]

having worked for a company who makes CCTV cameras & recorders - and having had CCTV cameras around my house and still been burgled I'll give you this advice:

CCTV isn't a deterrent. Floodlighting is, as is a good loud (and reliable) alarm system.

CCTV also isn't much good for identifying perps either - especially at night unless they're lit up really brightly. And no, don't bother with IR illumination either. It's good for showing that something happened in total darkness, but identifying who & what.. not so much.

Thanks for that. I've done a fair bit of cctv research and pretty much came to that conclusion. Floodlighting won't be possible as it's fronts onto he road but the loud alarm bit has already been taken care of ;)

[rth_discos]

And deadlocks are essential too.

Too many vans are easy to get by the central locking - this makes it much harder to get past the built in van security.

[ukpartydj]

I've just created a survey regarding the topic of break-ins (attempted and successful) to see if we can get a bit more information on the circumstances and how we can work together to make our vehicles more secure:

https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/JSLWMMH

I'll be sending it to other people, if you know any other DJs or similar trades who have experienced a vehicle break-in share the link please :)

Once a few results are collected I'll post the outcomes so we can all see.

[Spirits High]

Done the survey.

Already with just 2 respondents there are similar answers!

[surround sounds]

CCTV is great if used correctly.
I have 5mp ip cameras and they are excellent in the dark. I can also set them to motion and if there is any motion within a certain area which i choose, i get a text, call or email depending on what in want.

[Shaun]

My vans been sign-written for the last 10 years, with no break in attempts.

I did have a van broken into about 15 years ago. That van didn't have any sign-writing.

[rth_discos]

I've just created a survey regarding the topic of break-ins (attempted and successful) to see if we can get a bit more information on the circumstances and how we can work together to make our vehicles more secure:

https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/JSLWMMH

I'll be sending it to other people, if you know any other DJs or similar trades who have experienced a vehicle break-in share the link please :)

Once a few results are collected I'll post the outcomes so we can all see.

Would also be interesting to hear from those who haven't had any attempt at a break in, and what security they've had in place, ie, additional locks - does that act as a deter ant to attempt to break in for example?

[ukpartydj]

Done the survey.

Already with just 2 respondents there are similar answers!

Indeed I'm hoping for 10 responses to get a much clearer picture.


Would also be interesting to hear from those who haven't had any attempt at a break in, and what security they've had in place, ie, additional locks - does that act as a deter ant to attempt to break in for example?

I believe additional locks deter. I was told by a friend once (who knows theives) that a theif wouldn't bother trying to break my lock unless they knew something very valuable was inside. That being said I've managed to pick the lock myself in 10 mins with a lockpicking kit, which does mean I prehaps don't sleep so well at night as others do!


CCTV is great if used correctly.
I have 5mp ip cameras and they are excellent in the dark. I can also set them to motion and if there is any motion within a certain area which i choose, i get a text, call or email depending on what in want.

I've just got a cheap camera like this for like £40. Works okay but I think I need a better one as the motion sensor is terrible. May I ask which camera you have?

[Nakatomi]

CCTV is great if used correctly.
I have 5mp ip cameras and they are excellent in the dark. I can also set them to motion and if there is any motion within a certain area which i choose, i get a text, call or email depending on what in want.

Fat lot of good a phone call or email is when you're not at home. By the time you get back or call somebody they and your stuff will already be long gone. CCTV is no deterrent. It has some use in solving crimes after the fact when the images are clear, and when the people on the images are known to the police. Otherwise, meh.

Spend money on making it harder for them to get in first.

[surround sounds]

Fat lot of good a phone call or email is when you're not at home. By the time you get back or call somebody they and your stuff will already be long gone. CCTV is no deterrent. It has some use in solving crimes after the fact when the images are clear, and when the people on the images are known to the police. Otherwise, meh.

Spend money on making it harder for them to get in first.

Its great when you mom and dad lives 30 secs away and best mate 2 doors away. Images on mine is very clear and should be for the money

[Nakatomi]

Its great when you mom and dad lives 30 secs away and best mate 2 doors away. Images on mine is very clear and should be for the money


So long as you have other deterrents in place I sincerely hope you never have to rely on using images from it. A loud scary alarm should be enough to put thieves off. It usually has to go off for that to happen though ;)

[surround sounds]

So long as you have other deterrents in place I sincerely hope you never have to rely on using images from it. A loud scary alarm should be enough to put thieves off. It usually has to go off for that to happen though ;)

Yes its got 2 alarms fitted and tracking device.