Van insurance customers are growing more conscious of vehicle security and are stepping up safety measures as a result, according to the latest research by Swinton.

Out of 2,000 commercial vehicle drivers questioned, 87 per cent told the van insurance provider they had either bought or updated their security equipment in the last 18 months.

Top of the crime-prevention method list for van insurance customers were immobilisers, followed by trackers, extra door locks and steering locks.

When asked by Swinton about their main motives in stepping up their vehicles' protection, 61 per cent said safeguarding the contents of their van was a priority. Just over a fifth revealed the vehicles themselves were their main concern.

Representatives for the van insurance provider further revealed that the recession is behind 91 per cent of drivers' increased fears about vehicle crime. The majority claimed they would now never leave their van unlocked and unattended, despite doing so regularly two years ago.

"In some areas of the UK, the recession has led to increases in petty crime," acknowledged Phil Moss, Swinton's commercial vehicle manager. "However, this has had a positive effect on our van drivers as they are becoming increasingly more safety-conscious."

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