Security
hints & tips
Preventative
-
Ensure
that any portable, expensive equipment is not left on show
when cab is left unattended.
-
Consider
fitting an alarm system or security device and if you do, make
sure you USE it!
-
Be
aware that drawn curtains in an unattended cab may intimate
that there are items worth stealing.
-
Never
leave the safety of your truck to investigate noises or activity
outside – if you do, you are much more likely to find yourself
in a situation that may compromise your personal safety.
-
If
stopping for short periods, at a fuel station, for example,
always park on the forecourt where your truck is highly visible.
-
Choose
secure, well-lit lorry parks over road-side rest areas and
lay-bys.
-
When
parked and the trailer is empty, leave the rear doors / curtain
open.
-
Be
aware of attracting attention to your wallet when in fuel stations,
shops or restaurants and consider spreading funds around your
body.
-
Be
wary that ‘loose’ talk about load content and destination may
attract unwanted attention.
-
Avoid
making stops at the same times and places along your route – potential
thieves can spot patterns and may know when your load is full.
-
Try
to avoid late night re-fuelling as full tanks are an easy target
for diesel thieves.
Risk
management
-
Do
not store important documents such as passport, credit cards
and insurance documents together. Instead, stow them in separate
locations around your cab – this way, burglars will have difficulty
making a clean sweep of all item.
-
-
In
the event of a theft, your load will be covered but your own
effects will not, so take out adequate insurance on all personal
belongings.
-
Consider
signing up to the ‘Card Guard’ scheme – in the event that your
credit /fuel cards are stolen, there is just one central number
to call.
-
Use
your network of colleagues and fellow truckers to share information
on crime hotspots.
-
If
there is a theft or attack on your cab, make sure you report
the incident to the Police and Truckpol, in order to obtain
an incident number. Remember that until truck crime is seen
as a real problem for drivers and business, adequate crime
prevention measures will not be taken – every incident counts,
no matter how insignificant it may feel.
-
Consider
the dangers of using a ratchet strap to keep doors from being
opened from outside while you are parked up. It is an internal
hazard that may prove extremely dangerous in the event of a
fire.
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