Housing Group Protects Work Vans Against Criminal Damage

Housing group Berneslai Homes in conjunction with Barnsley Council are now working with SelectaDNA to protect their work vans against theft, break-ins and criminal damage.

According to new research by the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) more than half of builders in the UK have been victims of tool theft, with vans often targeted by thieves trying to get to the tools they believe are kept inside.

Berneslai Homes, like many other companies in the local area, have fallen victim to such crimes and have already taken a number of steps to counter them. Vehicles have been fitted with Thatcham alarm systems, strong boxes and Telematics systems and all tools are removed from unattended vehicles.

The use of SelectaDNA offers even further protection, by forensically marking assets and recording them on a secure database. A code found on an item of property or criminal can then be identified back to a specific owner and location. This technology effectively renders the tool worthless to anyone other than its legitimate owner.  The patented, unique forensic marking solution is endorsed by UK Police Forces and proving to be an invaluable weapon in crime prevention.

Construction Services Manager Lee Winterbottom adds: “Vehicle break-ins have a significant impact upon the service we are able to provide our customers. A van off the road that has sustained damage impacts upon our ability to carry out the day job – maintaining the homes of our tenants.

"There’s also nothing more frustrating than having to deal with a vehicle that has been extensively damaged by thieves – only for them to find it’s empty of tools. The steps we have already put in place have had a huge impact upon the number of incidents, but we felt we could do even more to protect our assets.”

Photo caption (from left to right) Adam Gill, (Construction Services, CS) Jack Barry Regan (South Yorkshire Police), Adrian Hunt (BMBC), Lee Winterbottom (CS) and Mick Spencer (CS).