“The bride and groom had ordered a bespoke bar complete with gold mirrors and bar tops. It absolutely looked the business, but when I came to drive to the venue the van was gone,” said Lewis, who operates his business, The Bartender, with three full time employees and an extensive team of freelance staff. “I was so relieved that my Transit has a built-in tracker that played a key role in me getting my van back.”
Lewis's experience highlights the significant issue of vehicle theft impacting van-based businesses, which contributed approximately a trillion euros to the EU and UK economies in 2023. For Ford Pro, addressing the issue is a top priority, and the company offers armoured steering locks, as well as a range of digital monitoring and protection systems powered by the standard built-in vehicle modem. These include alerts if the doors are tampered with, the van is used out of set hours, or if it changes location without being started – which occurs when a van is stolen and towed away. Ford Pro Telematics’ vehicle security can also remotely lock and unlock the doors.
The Bartender team has now enhanced its security with physical solutions, supplementing the digital tracking and ability to be alerted if the van is active between set times.
“We want Lewis, and all our van customers, to have complete confidence in their vehicles' security,” said Hans Schep, general manager, Ford Pro, Europe. “But, if the worst happens, we’re happy to be here to support the hardworking people who drive our communities and economies.”
