Effective ways to keep your fleet safe this Christmas

The festive period is famously a very intense time for countless business all over the UK. The surge in retail activity, coupled with the shorter working month, means that it can be a challenge to get all orders fulfilled, all administration complete, and just generally get all commercial operations sorted before Christmas. 

All this extra stress and movement can sometimes result in oversights or lapses, and it’s this that can make your business potentially more vulnerable to instances of fuel theft, vandalism and trespassing – all of which are more common over the festive period. Additional security measures for your business are therefore well worth considering, and we can provide particular help with one of those issues here at TankSafe – we can provide your fleet vehicles with comprehensive protection against fuel theft with our unique anti-siphon devices. 

So that’s one security issue covered – here’s some advice on what you can do about the others. 

Common seasonal Christmas crimes

Before we get into a few of the steps you can take to protect your commercial business, it’s worth quickly recapping the types of crimes that are more likely to affect you at this time of year. Generally speaking, there are a few crimes that just seem to become more prevalent over the Christmas period, and many business owners feel they’ve already got adequate security measures in place to deal with them. However, there are a few transgressions that tend to see a rise over the Christmas period which are worth keeping in mind.

Vandalism. It’s fair to say that the general level of alcohol consumption is at a high during this time of year. As a result, people going out and having a good time can sometimes go a bit overboard, which can then lead to things like confrontations, littering and vandalism in the streets around your business. For the most part, this could be completely accidental! However, it’s still something worth keeping in mind. 

Theft. This is definitely one of the most common misdemeanours committed over the Christmas period. During this time, criminals will target businesses that they know will be empty and holding increased levels of stock ready for the New Year. If you’re a fleet manager, it’s likely you’ll have all your vehicles parked up in one place over the festive period, so just be mindful that the shorter days and longer nights are an attractive prospect to thieves, as it makes it easier for them to go undetected. 

In-house theft. Christmas can be a stressful time for anyone, particularly those members of your staff that might struggle to keep up with the financial implications brought on by Christmas time. As a result of the added pressures brought on by this time of year, unfortunately, rates of theft committed by employees often increase. People may be more tempted to take things like fuel to help them alleviate the added financial burden. So, it’s important to empathise with your staff and approach this subject with a calm head and a bit of finesse, since there are often legal implications for how the situation is handled. As a general rule - always ensure that you’ve got substantial proof before making any unfounded accusations! If you need some further advice, check out our blog on what to do if you suspect an employee of theft. 

How can extra security protect your business 

Physical security solutions such as security gates, barriers and bollards are highly effective at preventing a wide range of crimes in general, and this is still true during the Christmas period. This is mainly because they provide access control, which is a benefit that other security systems like CCTV can’t provide. That’s not to say that an effective CCTV and alarm system isn’t worth having in place! Overall, it’s worth combining access control and monitoring systems to create the most efficient security system you can. For a full rundown, check out our blog on the four best ways to prevent fuel theft

However, if you’re a fleet manager, you’ll want to ensure that your most sought after asset (fuel) is fully protected from the risk of theft. We can help you with that here at TankSafe. 

TankSafe Optimum 

TankSafe Optimum is our marquee product. Efficient, reliable, and offering 100% protection from any and all types of fuel theft, it’s no wonder it’s become so highly sought after by fleet managers both here in the UK and overseas. It’s the only security device that can offer you 3-in-1 protection from fuel spills, overfilling, and theft, and it’s protected by 45 patents covering 49 territories worldwide. You will not find a more efficient device anywhere else in the world. 

If you have any questions regarding any of our products, or you simply need some advice, feel free to head over to our FAQs page, where we answer some of the most commonly asked questions regarding our products and services. Alternatively, you can give us a call on 01253 400 401, and we’ll be happy to help however we can!