Caravan theft and security

Sorry to hear your van has been lifted

All good stuff but none of this will deter the thieves.  I'm constantly surprised at the amount of folk who reverse the van onto their property so it can be hitched up and towed out, put it in nose first.  Remove a wheel and put locking wheel nuts into the hub.  Even the above wont stop them if they have a Hi Ab type truck to lift the van.   CCTV is ok but the real professionals will jam your wifi signal.  

If I put my caravan in the drive nose first it would make it difficult to get in & load/unload it. 

Nothing is fool proof and one school of thought says the more locks and devices you fit, the more damage will be caused to the van in removing them.

I've always said I’d not want a caravan/MH back once stolen and the best thing to have is a good insurance policy. 

Theft is to some extent a risk with all property. Thefts from your home are the most common form. The problem is that it can normally be seen from the road and the thieves can assess the security and plan accordingly. If the theft is from your home you are generally looking at professionals who know exactly what they are doing.

I would not argue with good wheel locks on both wheels or all four if you have them. The ALKO wheel lock is the most secure of the normal ones but not totally thief proof. You can get a Milenco one though filled with concrete which I believe is still undefeated but it is no use for touring owing to its weight.

Frankly any thief who can beat wheel locks will have no problem with wheel locks although they do slow them down a bit. Hitchlocks are useless, thieves will just use a chain or a prefabricated A frame and ignore it.

Trackers do work and could be a worthwhile investment, two is probably overkill though.

I am not convinced by anything on the roof. No one stands on a bridge looking for markings so they will not work although it might prove it is yours if it is recovered.

A second door lock is more likely to deters thieves who break but will not stop the caravan being stolen.

Lunars do have window locks although given the strength of the windows I am less than convinced they are a major threat to thieves.

Thieves normally burn off wheel locks so a further chain might delay them a bit but will not stop them.

I am afraid you can find a video from CCTV of a caravan being stolen on you tube and the CCTV made no difference. They thieves wore masks and the number of their Transit was not visible. That is not to say it is not worthwhile but unless very carefully positioned then it may not work other than to prove your insurance claim.

Security marking goods is worthwhile but again you are relying on them being recovered.

Possibly making your caravan more unique helps with additional markings on the outside would make it easier to spot  but even then some years ago the other club lost its training caravans, despite them have C&CC markings all over them.

Removing the wheels and using stands with locking wheel nuts is probably the most effective way of securing a caravan as suggested earlier. At the end of the day if you are going overboard with security though you are probably not cut out for a caravan.

How about a big dog with his kennel next to the van?

It's a sad sign of the times that all this has become necessary.

They'd pinch that too,unfortunately.!!

You go out for the day to come back and find your kennel gone 

I just have a hitchlock - and insurance. 

Its said removing all the cushions will put thieves off, a van is little use unless it has seating.