How to protect your Ford Transit: Britain’s most loved and most stolen van

Ford Transit

Today, we’re looking at the beloved Ford Transit. Since the 1950s, it’s been the mascot for tradespeople up and down the country and a trusty ally when you need to get the job done. It’s sturdy, reliable, high-tech, and you can fit all your tools in the back.

In 2018, the Ford Transit Custom was the best-selling van, reaching 54,806 sales, followed by the Ford Transit in second place with 32,694 sales. In 2019, the Ford Transit Custom and Ford Transit are already up to 30,891 and 15,183 sales, respectively. It’s the UK’s most beloved van. But why do we love it so much?

Why does the UK love the Ford Transit?

The Ford Transit is a working van, designed for businesses which need space and reliability. The Transit van range can load between 2.9 and 4.7 tonnes, depending on the model you choose. There’s also up to 15.1 cubic meters of load space in the biggest model, and the doors open wide for easy loading. The van designs have tradespeople in mind: builders, farriers, window fitters, plumbers, electricians, decorators; you name it.

The Transit van range attracts buyers because of its style. There’s a huge range of bodies to choose from so there’s something for everyone. You can choose medium, long, or extended wheelbases, or if you need more room for people, you can opt for a model with a double cabin.

Ford SYNC helps makes your driving experience better. The technology in the van’s front means you can connect your smartphone for endless entertainment or settle for the DAB radio. You can connect your contacts and use the hands-free call service. The van has rearview cameras and parking sensors to put your mind at ease when you’re trying to squeeze into those tight spots or seeing if there’s enough room to unload. There are also several safety features to help passengers.  

And it doesn’t end there. The vans also have ESC stability control systems, curve control tech, side-wind stabilisation, emergency brake assist, advanced traction control systems, and anti-tamper door locks.

Despite this, Commercial Fleet reported data from Tracker which showed 82% of vans stolen in 2017 were done so without keys, an increase of 44% from the previous year. The Ford Transit was the most popular van stolen, hiking up the cost of theft for people who had to replace tools and take time off work.

Relay van theft

The Sun did an experiment to see how easy it was to break into a number of keyless vehicles. They entered a Skoda Kodiaq and a Nissan Qashqai in 10 seconds, a Jaguar F Type R in 11 seconds, and a Mazda 2 Sport in 12 seconds. The Ford Transit, as a keyless vehicle, is just as easy to break into.

Their popularity, the fact they often contain expensive tools, and the fact they’re keyless contribute to making the Transit van one of the biggest victims of relay car theft in the UK. Transit van theft isn’t just vehicle theft; it’s livelihood theft. The cost of this can be hundreds, even thousands, taking into account insurance excess payments and tool replacement. So what can you do about it?

Thieves make relay theft look easy. But what you rarely see is how easy it is to prevent it. All you need to do is insert Keyless Protector around the battery in your car fob. The tiny device blocks the signal car thieves tamper with to steal your vehicle. It’s as simple as that. One tiny investment can save you thousands and give you peace of mind. Get yours today from Keyless Protector. Visit our website or call us for more information.

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