Safe and secure
Whether your caravan is on tour or in storage, there are steps you can take to keep it protected
PEOPLE BECOME ATTACHED to their caravan; they’re almost part of the family. And as you would for any family member, you’ll want to protect your caravan and keep it safe.
The threat of vehicle theft is very real. “We have seen a rise in caravan thefts in the past 12 months,” says Craig Thompson, marketing director of insurance specialist Caravan Guard (www. caravanguard.co.uk). “Motorhome theft is also on the rise.”
Fortunately, there are steps that you can take to keep your home-from-home secure.
Storage
Most touring units spend more time in storage than on tour. When choosing where to store your caravan, security should be a priority.
A friendly local farmer might rent out the corner of a disused barn, but if the closest thing to security is a geriatric sheepdog, you’d be better off choosing specialist storage.
Features you need look out for include CCTV, 24-hour on-site security, robust perimeter fencing, security lighting and controlled access.
“Perimeter fencing is better when made of durable and reliable materials, such as solid metal fences that are over 6ft tall, or palisade fencing, when it has wiring or spikes along the top. And fencing that is alarmed will be even better,” Thompson explains. “It’s important to see if the gates really are locked 24 hours a day, to control access to and from the site at all times. We’ve found so many storage locations where the gates are only locked overnight.
“Even better are sites with airlock-style gates – this is where you have to wait for the first gate to close before the second one can be opened.
“Check that getting out is via a similar way – thieves could enter the facility on foot, so you want it to be difficult for them to get caravans out, too.”
Start your search for secure storage facilities at CASSOA
(the Caravan Storage Site Owners’ Association). Any of the 400+ sites listed on CASSOA’S website (www.cassoa. co.uk) must reach a minimum level of security, which is
‘Features to look out for include CCTV, 24-hour on-site security, robust perimeter fencing, security lighting and controlled access’
independently assessed every five years (unless security concerns prompt an early visit).
There are three levels of security: Bronze, Silver and Gold. Expect to pay in the region of £350 to store a single-axle unit for a year, although costs will vary from site to site.
Twin-axle caravans will likely cost more to store than smaller vehicles.
Undercover storage – which helps to protect your caravan from the elements as well as from thieves – will also cost more.
However, don’t rule out a storage facility just because it isn’t part of CASSOA, suggests Thompson: “Remember, there are some good storage sites that are not CASSOA accredited.” Judge a site by its security features, not just membership of the leading industry association.
At home
For many of us, one of the most appealing things in caravanning is the ability to pack up and head off on tour whenever the mood takes you.
However, that’s not so easy if your caravan is being kept in a storage site 20 miles away.
If you have space, keeping your caravan at home is a convenient solution. But unless you take certain basic precautions, it can also be all too convenient for thieves.
“You must invest in good security,” recommends Iain Geddes, senior technical advisor at The Camping and Caravanning
Club (campingandcaravanning club.co.uk). “Hitchlocks on caravans, for example, are not very effective until the hitch is on something, so a security post with a ball on the end could be really effective, as you lock the caravan to this, then install a wheel clamp and augment with steady-leg locks, too.
“There’s also a good choice of wheel clamps
(that you can use).”
When choosing a security device such as a wheel lock, look for one that has been certified Sold Secure Silver or Gold – preferably Gold. A handful of products achieve the even higher Diamond standard.
Examples of wheel locks and clamps that performed well in independent testing include Al-ko’s Secure Caravan Wheel Lock (www.alko-tech.com) and Milenco’s Compact C Wheelclamp (www.milenco.com).
Trackers
Touch wood, locks and clamps should prevent a theft. But as another tier of security, consider a tracker such as those available from Bulldog Secure (www. bulldogsecure. com), so that there’s a chance you will get your caravan back if it is stolen.
“Of all caravans that have been recovered following theft since 2016, 44% were due to a tracking device,” says Thompson.
Trackers are assessed by the insurance industry body, Thatcham. Categories S7 and S5 cover tracking devices.
Insurers are likely to insist on a minimum level of security, such as a hitchlock and an axle- or wheel-clamp. The more valuable the caravan, the more particular insurers are likely to be, so check the policy wording carefully.
Go beyond the minimum required and your insurer might give you a discount. In the case of Caravan Guard, “caravan alarms get a 5% discount, approved axle wheel-locking devices offer a 10% discount, and an approved tracking device offers a 15% discount,” Thompson says. “Motorhome immobilisers offer a 15% security discount. We give a 25% security discount if you fit an approved tracking system.”
On tour
Owners need to be vigilant on holiday, as well as at home. Here it’s not just your caravan that might be at risk, but the possessions inside, too.
“Don’t have any big-ticket items on show,” says Geddes. “There are aftermarket safes that you could secure inside a locker. These can be a good place to stash important documents, cash and jewellery.”
Window locks are also worth considering, to make it more difficult for a thief to gain access to the inside of the tourer. Lock M Out (www.lock-m-out.co.uk) produces 11 security devices for different types of window catch.
Stay safe on the road
It’s important to keep yourself safe when you’re out touring, too, so breakdown assistance is recommended – that way, should you suffer any mishap on the road, you can rest assured that help is a phone call away.
Conclusion
Anybody whose caravan or possessions have been stolen will tell you what a miserable experience it is. But by investing in the best storage and security products, you greatly improve the odds of beating the thieves – and you could save on your insurance into the bargain.
‘When choosing a security device such as a wheel lock, look for one certified Sold Secure Silver or Gold, preferably Gold’