YOUR CAR
CAN BE STOLEN
in under 60 seconds with no alarm triggered
Construction site vehicle security UK: keep vans, pickups and plant on site overnight
LockCAR designs and makes immobilisers, 4G dashcams and GPS trackers in Birmingham, and approved installers fit them on site, with no mains power needed. This page is for builders, contractors and site managers who leave vans, pickups and plant on site overnight and want them still there in the morning.
- Vans, pickups and plant
- 12 V and 24 V
- Fitted on site
Why building sites are easy targets
Building sites in towns and on their edges create a predictable opportunity for organised theft.
- Vehicles gathered in one place
- A site at night holds several vans and pickups together, often with nobody watching.
- Perimeters that are still going up
- Early in a job the fencing is temporary, and gates and corners are easier to get through than at a depot.
- Several vehicles in one visit
- With relay equipment, a team can open and start one vehicle after another in a single night.
- Long weekends
- Bank holidays and quiet weekends, when site visits are irregular, give thieves time.
- Repeat visits
- Once a site has been raided, thieves know the layout, the vehicles and the weak points, and may come back.
If a site has been hit before, assume it will be watched again. Changing the gate lock is not enough when the vehicles on site can still be opened and started with the same tools as last time.
What gets taken from sites
- Vans full of toolsTransits and Sprinters carrying tools and materials are the main target.
- PickupsHilux and Ranger pickups are wanted for resale and export.
- Wheeled plantTelehandlers, dumpers and small diggers usually need a low-loader, so the risk is lower but real.
- The contentsWhere a vehicle cannot be moved, power tools, cable and plumbing stock become the target instead, so keep vans locked and racked as well.
Losing a loaded van on a Monday morning costs more than the van. Work stops, deliveries are missed and tools have to be hired or bought again before the gang can start. Stopping the drive-away protects the programme as well as the vehicle.
What fencing and CCTV do, and what they do not
Standard site security matters, but none of it stops a running vehicle driving through the gate. An immobiliser on each vehicle does, and when vehicles cannot be started a repeat visit is far less tempting.
Fencing and cameras help to
- Slow down entry to the site
- Put off opportunists
- Record people coming and going
- Meet the basic security your site plan calls for
They cannot
- Stop a vehicle opened by a relayed key from being driven out
- Stop a new key being programmed through the diagnostic port
- Tell you a van has left until someone checks the footage
- Protect vehicles parked outside the fence overnight
Fitting site vehicles without stopping work
Approved installers come to the site, your yard or your office, so vehicles do not need to leave the job.
No mains power needed
Installers carry what they need, and the immobiliser runs from the vehicle’s own 12 V or 24 V supply, so open sites without facilities are fine.
Vehicles done in turn
Vehicles are fitted one after another, so the rest of the fleet carries on working while each is done.
Each vehicle tested
The installer starts each vehicle with and without the TAG or code, so you see the engine stay blocked before it goes back to work.
Drivers shown on the spot
Whoever drives the vehicle is shown how the TAG or code works, there and then. Subcontractors who share a van can have TAGs of their own, so ask when you book.
Options for site vehicles
Protect every vehicle with an immobiliser, then add tracking where you need to see vehicles move between sites. With five or more tracked vehicles, the LFM platform shows them all on one map with alerts outside working hours.
| Option | Engine blocked | GPS and alerts | Best for | Price fitted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fob (TAG) immobiliser | Yes | No | Site vans and pickups | £249 |
| PIN code immobiliser | Yes | No | Shared vehicles with several drivers | £299 |
| LockCar One Plus 4G | Yes | Yes | High-value vehicles and multi-site work | £499 |
| LockCar Duo RH Plus 4G | Yes | Yes | Vehicles that also need a cabin camera | £699 |
A simple way to plan: list every vehicle that stays on site overnight, mark the ones you could not work without tomorrow morning, and protect those first. Add the rest as the job goes on.
Site vehicle security questions
Can you fit on a site without mains power?
Yes. Installers bring the tools they need, and the immobiliser runs from the vehicle’s own 12 V or 24 V battery, so no mains connection is required. Open sites without facilities are fine.
Can different workers use the same van?
Yes. With the PIN version, drivers share the code, so nobody needs a fob of their own. With the TAG version, ask about pairing extra TAGs for each regular driver.
Does it work on plant as well as road vehicles?
Wheeled plant with a 12 V or 24 V electrical system, such as telehandlers, dumpers and small diggers, may be suitable. Send us the machine type so we can check before booking.
Will I know if a van leaves site at night?
With a LockCAR 4G system and LFM, geofences and movement alerts outside working hours tell you when a vehicle moves, so you can act straight away.
Do I need tracking on every vehicle?
No. An immobiliser on every vehicle stops the drive-away. Add tracking to the vehicles you most need to see, such as those that move between sites or carry the most valuable kit.
What does it cost?
Fitted immobilisers start at £249 for the fob (TAG) version and £299 for the PIN version. The One Plus 4G, with tracking and a dashcam, is £499 fitted.
Is the site immobiliser Thatcham approved?
Not yet. Thatcham Security Certification of LockCAR immobilisers is ongoing. Site and plant insurers may set their own terms, so check yours and declare what is fitted.
Written by the LockCAR engineering team. We design and build CAN bus immobilisers, GPS trackers and 4G dashcams in the UK and fit them through our approved installers. Meet the engineers. Last updated .
