Having bought a caravan, the next important step is to protect your investment with an adequate level of security.
Apart from the obvious financial implications, protecting both the caravan its contents adequately can save a ruined holiday and all the associated heartache that comes with being the victim of crime.
There are numerous products on the market that can help protect your caravan against theft. Look for the ‘Sold Secure’ badge when purchasing a security device – the industry standard which confirms the fitness of the security product.
Wheel clamps and hitch locks
These act as both a physical and visual deterrent to thieves. The hitch lock fits over the towing hitch and assembly fixing bolts to prevent the caravan being coupled up to a thief’s towing vehicle. Wheel clamps work in a similar way and are quite often required as the minimum form of security by caravan insurers.
Caravan hitch lock and wheel clamp brands: Al-Ko, Bulldog, SAS, Diamond, Purpleline
Caravan alarms
Caravan alarms emit a shrill siren once triggered and are useful for alerting neighbours and startling potential thieves. Some devices will have corner steady vibration and tilt sensors which set off the alarm if the caravan is hitched and towed unexpectedly or interfered with – particularly useful when the van is unoccupied or left at a storage site or seasonal pitch.
Caravan alarm brands: Keen Electronics, SAS, CSM, Thatcham
Tracking devices
Perhaps the most effective device for recovering a stolen caravan, a tracking device installed in the caravan is linked up to a central database which alerts the appropriate security force if the caravan is unexpectedly moved. Having a tracker fitted can reduce the insurance premium by anything up to 30per cent.
Caravan tracker brands: Phantom, Hal-Locate, TRACKER, The Defender, SmarTrack, Cobra Trak.
Immobilisers
Immobilisers are a relatively new addition to the range of caravan security devices. A key operated cylindrical bolt system locks the caravan’s wheel to the axle. Fitted on selected new models, the system can also be retrofitted on older caravans.
Security posts & ground anchors
Caravanners who opt to store their vans at home may opt to install a security post or ground anchor into the driveway. These are often concreted into the ground and used to anchor the caravan to the spot with a heavy duty chain and padlock, acting as a further deterrent to thieves.
CRiS
The Caravan Registration and Identification Scheme (CRiS) is a database of caravans which have been assigned their own unique 17 digit security number. All NCC caravans manufactured since 1992 are automatically given a CRiS number which is etched onto the body of the van. It is now possible to register pre-2002 vans with the scheme.
If a caravan is bought or sold, it is important to update the CRiS database; should a caravan be discovered stolen, the victim can be notified of its recovery via the details held in the database.
