If you are one of the many people who take a holiday or short break with their own caravan each year, remember that the caravan becomes your home whilst you are on holiday and as with your home, you should take effective security measures to help keep your caravan and its contents safe. Though 'inbuilt' security has improved greatly in recent times, a caravan can still be a target for burglars and caravan thieves. Follow the advice below to help keep your caravan and the contents safe and secure.
Protecting The Contents:
- Fit an alarm and always use it.
- Make sure that the windows are all lockable.
- As with your house, lock up before you leave, even if just going out for a short while.
- Draw the curtains before leaving the caravan.
- Use timer switches to turn on lights
during the hours of darkness and also to turn on a radio or television. This will give the appearance that the caravan is occupied.
- Use property marking for items of property within the caravan.
- Whenever possible, avoid leaving valuables and cash etc. within the caravan.
Protecting The Caravan
- Use a good quality hitch lock that covers the towing-hitch bolt.
- Leg locks, which prevent the raising of the legs, are another method of stopping the caravan from being towed away by thieves.
- Strong, good quality, wheel clamps will also secure the caravan.
- Never leave your vehicle registration documents in the caravan as this will make it easier for the thief to sell it on quickly.
- Tracking devices are now available for fitting in caravans.
- Almost all new caravans built since 1992 have a vehicle identification number stamped onto their A-frame and etched onto most windows. If your caravan does not have these markings, you should consider having it done.
- Take a photograph of your caravan and record any distinguishing features; also make a note of the chassis number together with any other serial numbers
and retain these details in your house. Then if you are unlucky enough to have your caravan stolen, you will have this information to give to the Police and your insurance company.
Page last updated/reviewed 6th January 2010 |
