No one wants to think about their van being stolen, but if you're standing on the driveway wondering where it's gone, then the time to talk prevention has passed.
Once a van’s disappeared, the disruption starts immediately. Jobs need rearranging. Customers need updating. Tools and materials may be gone too. Insurance claims take time. Replacement vehicles aren't always easy to source. And if you're self-employed, every day off the road can hit hard.
So when a van’s stolen, the problem isn’t the fact you can’t drive – it’s the fact you can’t work.
That's why all of us here at ProtectAVan were proud to help launch Vehicle Watch at InstallerSHOW 2026, alongsideCT1, our sister company TVL, and the Metropolitan Police Service.
The show took place at the NEC Birmingham from 23 to 25 June and gave us three busy days of meetings and conversations with installers, tradespeople, suppliers and industry partners. Unsurprisingly perhaps, we found ourselves coming back to the same point time and time again: the need for practical ways to make vans harder to target and easier to identify.
Well, there’s good news because Vehicle Watch was created to do exactly that.
Vehicle Watch? What’s that?
Vehicle Watch is a new van theft prevention pilot. The free scheme offers tradespeople the option to have tamper-proof identification stickers applied to their vans. These stickers indicate to police patrols that the driver’s happy to be stopped so officers can check they’re the legitimate owner.
You can choose between a timed sticker, for vehicles that shouldn’t usually be on the road between 10pm and 4am, or a non-timed sticker for tradespeople with more flexible working hours.
The reason that matters is because it gives van owners a way to choose the option that better reflects how their vehicle is actually used. Not every trade works the same hours. Some vans are parked up overnight, while others can be used for emergency call-outs, shift work or jobs that don't fit neatly into normal hours. Vehicle Watch. The stickers are tamper-proof which a use high-grade retroreflective film to make them easier to spot in low light.
As Luke Powell, Commercial Director at TVL Group, explains: “Working alongside CT1 and the Metropolitan Police Service allows us to deliver a scheme that is straightforward for tradespeople to access and reliable in how it is applied.”
Making sure installation’s done right
We’re carrying out controlled Vehicle Watch installations at our Brentwood HQ. That means the labels will be fitted properly, consistently and with a process that’s been fully approved. For a scheme like this, that matters. The value isn’t just in the sticker itself, it’s in making sure the process is handled correctly.
It's also a natural fit for what we do every day – fitting security products, storage systems, racking, accessories and practical upgrades that help vans work harder and stay better protected.
Good van security isn't one thing. It's a combination of sensible choices that make your vehicle harder to steal, harder to break into and easier to recover or identify if the worst happens.
Vehicle Watch is one of those choices.
A practical launch at InstallerSHOW
InstallerSHOW was the perfect place to bring Vehicle Watch to the trade.
The event’s built around practical products, real conversations and the people who install, build, maintain and keep the country moving. Across the three days, the CT1 stand was packed. People had loads of questions and a genuine interest in how the scheme works.
They wanted to ask which label type would suit their vehicle, and how the stickers work, but they also wanted to talk about van security as a whole, and how products can work together to build a better defence.
Which is EXACTLY the kind of conversation we love having.
Adding Vehicle Watch to your wider van security
Vehicle Watch is an important extra layer of protection.
For some van owners, it might sit alongside upgraded locks or load area protection. For others, it may be part of a wider setup that includes tracking, tool marking, racking, secure storage, lighting or a full vehicle fit-out.
The best setup depends on how you use your van, what you carry, where you park and how much you rely on your vehicle.
At ProtectAVan, this is the sort of practical conversation we find ourselves having every day. We’re not here to sell a one-size-fits-all solution to everyone. We’re here to help people make sensible choices that fit the way they actually work.
Helping tradespeople keep working
So while Vehicle Watch can’t solve van theft on its own, it DOES give you another practical way to protect the vehicles you depend on. It makes them more visible to police, and makes it clear to everyone if your van’s been tampered with.
And it helps to keep your van protected before a crime’s taken place which, for us, is what really matters.
Vehicle Watch installations are now available at our Brentwood facility.
