(September 13, 2012) HPI’s latest findings of the most commonly stolen light commercial vehicles (LCV) confirms that the Ford Transit is still top of the thieves’ shopping list. But close behind are the Mercedes Sprinter and Mitsubishi L200.

For those whose livelihood depends on a four-wheeled workhorse, buying a used van can be a risky business and something that should be approached with care. Stolen, clocked, cloned, written-off or still on finance are just some of the many pitfalls to catch-out the unsuspecting van buyer, warns the vehicle information expert, HPI.

“It’s not just van owners that need to be concerned about which LCVs are most commonly stolen; used van buyers also need to consider the risks,” explains Daniel Burgess, Managing Director for HPI.   “Thieves will be looking to sell vans on to innocent buyers, so the general public and van dealers must be on their guard.  Dealers who unwittingly buy a stolen van not only face losing the van and the money they paid for it, should it be returned to the van’s legal owner, but put their reputation on the line should they innocently sell on that van to a customer who then faces financial loss.”

Burgess says, “It’s essential that used van buyers are aware of the risks and don’t get taken in by criminals and dishonest sellers. The HPI Check will tell a dealer whether their potential purchase has been stolen, written-off, had a plate change, might be clocked or is on outstanding finance, offering valuable peace of mind for them and their customers.”