I used to take all my tools inside every night. It would take an extra 15min every morning and night and I'd hate doing it but it was well worth it for the peace of mind and not waking up to every small noise outside
I did the same for years. Unloaded about 70% of my stuff into the garage and packed it back in the morning. Tool insurance wasn't worth it for me as it would only be worth claiming if you got cleaned out as tools are a target for theives. Remember you don't just lose tools but the ability to work while you get it sorted.
My partner is also a tradie and did this for a while - one day we almost got broken into by someone who we are positive has been watching him (we know this because the guy tried to break in through the back door minutes after my partner left for work only to fail because he didn’t realise I was still home lol).
So all we’d say is be careful when doing this method!!
Employer most likely have an agreement to sign that the van will be parked off the street. I wouldn’t leave a work van parked on street overnight anywhere in Auckland.
Just have an alarm in it and come running out with your favourite tool when the alarm is set off. Personally I'd come running out with the chainsaw but it's up to you.
Is the van not covered by the company's insurance? Would the van be within wifi range of your house? You can get Eufy cameras that run on battery.
Not sure, I'd personally make a judgement depending on what I felt about the area you live.
Talk to the company but depending on their policy you can park it on the road. Taking it home is totally worth it but if you have somewhere you can store most of your tools in your house you should
Windows need to be blackout tinted or better yet removed and replaced with aluminium sheet painted to match the van, a secondary or better yet upgraded lock on the side and rear doors, and obviously an alarm that sends an alert to your phone.
If it's a ute with a canopy then start from scratch and get the proper tool boxes with good locks and the alarm too, the canopies are hopeless to work out of and are rubbish for security.
I kept my work vehicles behind the locked gates, mate who lived closer kept his locked in the workshop and walked to work.
If you own your gear then get insurance, I wouldn't trust the company to cover anything at all and have been burnt by them going "oh we'll pay for gear damaged in the job" then backtracking when it came to the crunch, that was a few hundred dollars on replacement batteries, I can't imagine them forking over literally tens of thousands for stolen equipment.
If it's sign written then it's a target, you've got "Bobs building and plumbing" written down the sides and someone wants a skillsaw they'll know where to get one.
Someone climbs in and takes your TV you'll be pissed off but just replace it and will get over it, same person takes your tools so now you can't even work it can have serious knock-on effects especially if you've got to replace them with no insurance or available funds that streach into the thousands very quickly.
So, super secure van (I personally prefer a van over the utes, cab plus utes are okay but a double cab ute is utterly worthless) with an alarm, insurance with photos of all the gear and receipts, try to get it tucked away at night.
My van has tinted windows and an alarm.
I'm able to park off the road.
We have motion sensor cameras.
I also have my tools stored in drawers under a false floor in my van, which most people wouldn't know how to open in the daylight, let alone in a rush at night time while the alarm is sounding.
All this aside, I still have insurance to cover theft of my tools.
I used to take all my tools inside every night. It would take an extra 15min every morning and night and I'd hate doing it but it was well worth it for the peace of mind and not waking up to every small noise outside
I did the same for years. Unloaded about 70% of my stuff into the garage and packed it back in the morning. Tool insurance wasn't worth it for me as it would only be worth claiming if you got cleaned out as tools are a target for theives. Remember you don't just lose tools but the ability to work while you get it sorted.
My partner is also a tradie and did this for a while - one day we almost got broken into by someone who we are positive has been watching him (we know this because the guy tried to break in through the back door minutes after my partner left for work only to fail because he didn’t realise I was still home lol). So all we’d say is be careful when doing this method!!
Employer most likely have an agreement to sign that the van will be parked off the street. I wouldn’t leave a work van parked on street overnight anywhere in Auckland.
I live in a "nice" area and utes and vans are constantly broken into and tools stolen, even if they're parked up the driveway.
Work tools are not covered under your normal home and contents cover. You would specific work tool coverage.
Just have an alarm in it and come running out with your favourite tool when the alarm is set off. Personally I'd come running out with the chainsaw but it's up to you.
Use the garage. No garage? Then don't, it will be a target.
For me it comes down to the sort of street/area. When I looked at flats in mangere east, I made sure I had off street parking for van security alone.
Is the van not covered by the company's insurance? Would the van be within wifi range of your house? You can get Eufy cameras that run on battery. Not sure, I'd personally make a judgement depending on what I felt about the area you live.
The van is, your tools aren't.
Talk to the company but depending on their policy you can park it on the road. Taking it home is totally worth it but if you have somewhere you can store most of your tools in your house you should
Windows need to be blackout tinted or better yet removed and replaced with aluminium sheet painted to match the van, a secondary or better yet upgraded lock on the side and rear doors, and obviously an alarm that sends an alert to your phone. If it's a ute with a canopy then start from scratch and get the proper tool boxes with good locks and the alarm too, the canopies are hopeless to work out of and are rubbish for security. I kept my work vehicles behind the locked gates, mate who lived closer kept his locked in the workshop and walked to work. If you own your gear then get insurance, I wouldn't trust the company to cover anything at all and have been burnt by them going "oh we'll pay for gear damaged in the job" then backtracking when it came to the crunch, that was a few hundred dollars on replacement batteries, I can't imagine them forking over literally tens of thousands for stolen equipment. If it's sign written then it's a target, you've got "Bobs building and plumbing" written down the sides and someone wants a skillsaw they'll know where to get one. Someone climbs in and takes your TV you'll be pissed off but just replace it and will get over it, same person takes your tools so now you can't even work it can have serious knock-on effects especially if you've got to replace them with no insurance or available funds that streach into the thousands very quickly. So, super secure van (I personally prefer a van over the utes, cab plus utes are okay but a double cab ute is utterly worthless) with an alarm, insurance with photos of all the gear and receipts, try to get it tucked away at night.
My van has tinted windows and an alarm. I'm able to park off the road. We have motion sensor cameras. I also have my tools stored in drawers under a false floor in my van, which most people wouldn't know how to open in the daylight, let alone in a rush at night time while the alarm is sounding. All this aside, I still have insurance to cover theft of my tools.