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Posts Tagged ‘Mercedes Sprinter’

Van Drivers Suffer Exhaust Thefts

Friday, February 17th, 2012

It would appear that the new craze for scrap metal thieves is stealing exhausts from vans. If it isn’t internet lines and catalytic converters, then it’s van exhausts. So, this blog post today is to act as a warning to all van drivers out there! Please be aware of the thefts that have taken place, and look to keep your van protected.

Protecting Your Van

Now whilst a comprehensive van insurance quote may indeed cover you, provided your van is parked where it should be overnight for example, there are other measures you can take to protect your van. For example, if you own a garage then it may be an idea to park your van in the garage over night as a precaution. It will also be important to report any suspicious behaviour and to be vigilant when leaving your van.

Reports

It was reported that exhausts were stolen in Stretford and Urmston and officers are now warning van drivers to be very vigilant when parking their van just about anywhere. Last month there were 11 catalytic converter thefts in Greater Manchester. It seems they were a popular target for petty thieves because they can fetch up to £1,000 for such an item.

Police Involvement

Pc Steve Bryant, of Operation Alloy, the Greater Manchester Police campaign set up to tackle scrap metal crime, has been commenting that scrap gangs were now going after vehicles left on the street. He was quoted saying: “Because of the size of these items, people probably will have seen suspicious activity during early hours. These are large items which have to be removed with a saw. If you are removing a full exhaust system, it takes some time. If anyone has seen suspicious activity I’d ask them to call the police.”

The police have also stated that they are curious as to why it is Mercedes Sprinter vans that have been particularly targeted. Pc Bryant went on to add: “We are still building our intelligence picture but we would like help from the public.”

If you do have any information then please do report it! These crimes must be brought to a stop as quickly as possible! Who’s with me?

Tags: Crime, Mercedes Sprinter, Stolen Exhausts, Thefts, Van Crime
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What’s the Best Looking Van?

Friday, January 27th, 2012

Today we’re thinking about what the best looking van is currently on the market, new and used. A van isn’t just about being able to carry a heavy load, or how many boxes and goods you can squeeze in the back. It’s important for a van to look smart too, no matter what size it is and that is exactly why, for this blog, we are forgetting about how big the van is. We are simply just thinking about the best looking vans.

Berlingo

Now, while I realise aesthetic appeal probably isn’t the highest on the list of requirements for a new or used van, it is however something that can sway van drivers to choose one van over another. Isn’t it? That’s why when I bought my van a few months ago I went for a little, second hand, Citroen Berlingo. It was a great choice as I think it’s probably the best looking vehicle in its class and one of the most rugged too. Who agrees with me?

Vito Brabus

Other great looking vans out there include the Vito Sport-X. This is a bit of a special van anyway. It comes with some Brabus styling including 18 inch alloy wheels, a front spoiler and leather-trimmed seats, steering wheel and gearshift. The Sport-X is also loaded with a 3.0 litre V6 diesel engine that produces 221bhp. This brute of an engine will propel the van from 0-60mph in just 9.1 seconds before then pushing on to a maximum speed of 125mph. Some very impressive performance figures indeed! Furthermore, because it is a diesel engine, it’s likely you will be able to get a cheap commercial van insurance policy.

Fiesta and Corsa

Another great looking van is the new Fiesta Van. The normal Fiesta car is already a good looking vehicle and so by turning it into a van, Ford have basically just replaced the rear windows with panels and removed the rear seats in order to form a decent amount of space to be loaded up.

Along the same lines as the Fiesta Van is the Corsa Van. This too is a good looking light commercial vehicle. Again, like the Fiesta, the Corsa Van is basically a normal Corsa with panels in place of rear windows and extra space in the rear.

These two vans may not be the most practical for those that need to carry heavy duty loads around but they are both decent looking vehicles. They will also both be cheap and easy to run.

What do you think is the best looking van?

Tags: Cheap Commercial Van Insurance, Citroen Berlingo, commercial van insurance, Corsa Van, Fiesta Van, Mercedes Sprinter
Posted in Van Insurance | 1 Comment »

Sprinter Vans Targeted by Thieves

Friday, December 16th, 2011

Van drivers are being told in Durham to guard their vehicles carefully over coming weeks following a number of catalytic converter thefts in the area. However, it seems that one particular model is being targeted by thieves: the Mercedes Sprinter van.

Police have stated that there have been, in the last fortnight alone, around 20 separate thefts of catalytic converters from Mercedes Sprinter vans. That is a rather staggering amount, and something that needs to be avoided.

Dual Catalytic Converters

It is thought that the reason thieves are attacking Sprinter vans as opposed to any other vans, is because they have dual catalytic converters, rather than the standard single issue converters. This makes the catalytic converter from the Mercedes Sprinter worth a whole lot more money which thieves will then try to sell on at dealers or recycling yards.

Thieves often know exactly where to go in order to find someone who won’t ask too many questions regarding the stolen goods. This is one highly immoral practice!

It has also been reported that almost all of the thefts have taken place over night whilst the vehicle has been parked on a road or in someone’s driveway.

Lock it up in a Garage

Paul Gray, Detective Sergeant of Durham Constabulary, has been commenting on the issue: “There is of course a cost implication, as catalytic converters cost several hundred pounds to replace. But Mercedes Sprinter vans are commercial vehicles, which means the victims of these thefts are also suffering major disruption to their livelihoods.” Whilst some commercial van insurance policies may cover the cost, the van driver is still left unable to work for a certain amount of time until the vehicle is put right. Hence the disruption Mr Gray speaks of that can be caused to van drivers livelihoods.

Mr Gray added: “We are making regular visits to yards and asking owners to report any instances of someone bringing in these items. In the meantime, we would urge anyone who owns one of these vans to keep it stored in a garage if possible, and to call us if they think their vehicle has been tampered with.”

Wise words and ones that should be followed! If a scrap yard were to accept the stolen item without reporting it, then they are proving to be just as irresponsible in this instance.

Tags: commercial van insurance, Durham, Mercedes Sprinter, Van Insurance
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