Paul Horton, Director of Locks in the City, an MLA-approved company, is a QML member, MLA trainer, and board member. In this article, he shares his journey into van lock fitting and how it has played a key role in the growth and success of his locksmith business.

Van break‑ins are at an all‑time high with no signs of slowing down, let alone stopping. Whether your vehicle is electric, hybrid or diesel, they still carry the same equipment, and the body of the van is typically the same. So, now is the time to ensure you do all that you can to try to protect your vehicles from becoming a target.

Sadly, you can never fully protect anything. It’s about buying time, slowing down and reducing the risk. There is a large array of products on the market, which is great but also a little off‑putting if you have no idea what’s the best solution. This tends to make people think, “I’ll sort it later”. Then, unfortunately, the vehicle is targeted, robbed and damaged.

Now, there is a cost involved to replace stolen equipment and tools, the expense of repairs, time with the vehicle off the road and the cost of securing the vehicle to avoid it happening again.

Find Independently Tested Van Locks at Sold Secure

The Rise of the Camper Van

Adding to the problem is the growth in the number of camper vans and camper van conversions, which are starting to be targeted. Thieves do not go so much for the vehicle itself but for the expensive contents and equipment.

Leisure batteries and power generators have advanced massively in recent years and cost a small fortune. So has the associated hardware that runs alongside it, such as solar panels.

There is also a rising number of people who are opting to choose ‘van life’ instead of owning or renting a brick‑and‑mortar home – living in their van.

However, a few years ago, I started getting an increase in calls. At first, I kind of put it off. Then, as the question got more frequent, I started to think to myself, “Maybe I’m missing a trick here?”. So, I said yes to my first customer.

Of course, I had some reservations as I’d be cutting into someone’s van. What if I make a mistake? It’s bad enough doing your own van, but someone else’s is next level. I’ve always had confidence in my abilities and a ‘go get it’ attitude. I like not to have my eggs all sitting in one basket, as it were. So I did the van, and of course, all was ok, and it went well.

Even if it was slow, very slow, at first, it was done properly, and the customer was happy. This started my regular journey into van locks.

Find a MLA Approved Van Lock Fitter Near You

I started to get an array of van lock installations and referrals. Steadily, the amount I was doing started to increase. Maybe one or two a week. My installations got quicker, and my confidence grew. So, I started adding to my tool kit. I had the majority of the tools required already, but there were a few bits needed to make life easier. I was using all battery tools to start with.

Electric or petrol? I opted for petrol as I was living and operating in Bridgend, South Wales. Parts of Wales can be quite rural, so running lengths of extension cable is not ideal, if possible, at all.

I was using a multi‑tool to aid in cutting some of the panels. I have tried a multitude of alternatives, but I’ve not found anything that quite matches the air saw for speed, ease of use, controllability and tidiness of cut. The airline blow gun is also great for cleaning down and blowing away swarf and debris.

Word of Mouth: How Other Trades Trust and Recommend My Services

More recently, maybe in the last 12‑18 months, I have predominantly done van locks and security installations alongside auto locksmithing. The auto side also came from installing van locks. The van owners often ask if I’m able to make a spare ignition key. So, again, having been asked a number of times, it made sense to look into it. I did, and I decided to invest in that side of the business too.

Read more about Paul’s journey into Autolocksmithing here

It seems that there was an additional spike in attacks, or maybe van owners met someone else whose vehicle was targeted, which pushed them into finally looking to secure their vehicle. I guess the referrals have had an effect, as I have fitted quite a lot of van locks.

All of this is alongside the usual social media input and sharing, which helped me to secure work for a couple of local businesses’ fleets of vehicles. Now, we don’t supply and install these as a guarantee or promise that a vehicle won’t be targeted or that the vehicle is impenetrable.

However, it’s a means to add another layer of physical security to a vehicle. It buys additional time and is another obstacle and a visual deterrent to thieves. The hope is that they move on in search of something easier. We always advise you to secure a vehicle the best you can.

Practice What You Preach: The Importance of Leading by Example in the Trade

That said, it’s always good to also ensure your own van is up to scratch to protect your livelihood. It’s scary to think about when you add up the value of the contents of the tools you carry with the cost of stock on top. I know when I roughly worked mine out, it was an eye‑watering amount that had built up over the years. So it’s about practising what you preach.

All You Need Is a Drill: Master Van Lock Fitting with Our Course

Shane Hales (Master locksmith in London), Martin Leadbeater and myself teach a van lock installation training course at MLA HQ, where we run a comprehensive theory‑based session in the morning for a couple of hours.

Then we go down into the workshop where students get hands‑on with installing three different locks into practice purpose‑made steel plates/board that mimic van door profiles. You have to mask up, mark out, cut out and install using the typical hardware.

We go through the process from start to finish, including the importance of rust protection and the clean‑down after installation. We go over selecting the right locks for the job, the tools required, and how to freshly install van locks.

We also give plenty of hints, tips, knowledge and experience as three people who install van locks regularly, if not daily.

“We also do a live demonstration on a van or suitable vehicle so that students can see from start to finish how the tutors go about the installation.”

The only thing you need to bring along with you on the day is a drill and some charged batteries. Everything else is supplied, including teas, coffee and lunch.

Van Lock Fitting Course – Learn More

The information in this article is sourced from the October 2024 issue of Keyways, the essential locksmith journal provided FREE to MLA members.

Recommend Reading

• Join the Master Locksmiths Association
• Why use an MLA Approved Locksmith
• Courses to become a locksmith