Every single year just in the UK, almost 50,000 van thefts are reported. A lot! This is why it is so that if you own a camper van, you take all the security precautions possible. There are few things that are as disturbing for a trip as having someone break in and steal valuable items for you, or maybe even hurt you or your family. There are a couple of different ways to keep the theft danger to a minimum and in this article we will cover them all.
Trip Planning
The most basic solution to theft is avoiding places where theft happens. Not all locations are made equal when it comes to theft danger. So when you are planning you trip, check how dangerous the location you are going to is when it comes to theft. Basically you can just google location + theft or dangers and you will quickly find if you should be extra careful or not. You can also use these common sense points:
- HIGH THEFT DANGER: big cities and popular tourist destinations during high season
- LOW THEFT DANGER: remote unpopular locations during low season
In high danger locations use secure camping grounds, secure parking lots with video surveillance etc… A very helpful thing to do everywhere, even when stopping on a remote beach is to ask the locals if there is theft here.
The next thing is the actual camper van security and items and gadgets that can help you protect your van.
Camper Van Security
Security Alarm
A good alarm system for your camper van can be a life saver. Some (new) vans already come with an alarm, but there are plenty of aftermarket system that can help you out or are even better than original ones. So look for all the different options available on the market. You will surely find something that falls within your budget. It is also possible to add a tracker to your vehicle, so in the case your van is stolen, you can see where it is.
Good alarms will go off when someone is messing with your vehicle, when someone is inside or when any of the doors are opened while the alarm is on. Aftermarket alarms have a benefit that the thief will not be familiar with the alarm that you have.
Another safety option is to have outside cameras facing not just back (for easier parking) but also left and right. Cameras can record the surrounding when you are not in the van or can help you see what is going on around you van while you are inside it.
As an extra tip, make sure to also have the right insurance in place for what is inside the camper van in the event something bad happens.
This post was made possible by this blog post by Cinch Home Services on how to reset a Samsung microwave instead of replacing it.
EXTRA TIP: Sometimes even putting car alarm sticker on your camper van windows can help. The thief won’t know if you really have a car alarm or not, but if there is a change that the car is equipped with an alarm he will likely rather go elsewhere.
Deadlocks and Blocking the Doors
Deadlocks can stop the thieves from actually getting inside the van in the first place. These are separate locks that you install on all of your camper van doors. So to get inside the camper you will need the original car key AND another key for the deadlocks. Breaking double locks it presents added difficulty and the thief is likely to go elsewhere.
Another trick to prevent someone from opening the doors that works while you are inside sleeping is to use a ratchet load strap to tie the door handles of the opposite doors together making the doors impossible to open.
Steering Wheel Locks
Protecting what is inside the camper van is useless if the thieves steal the entire vehicle. This is where anti-theft locks for your steering wheel make a lot of sense. They are a visual deterrent and can quickly remove your van as a target for casual thieves.
A good steering wheel lock is very hard for a thief to quietly remove. You can attach or remove one very fast with just the use of the key. And to make matters even better, the price tag of such a gadget is pretty low. The main types of locks to look at are:
- Original style – A bar that is attached with the use of hooks.
- Enclosed lock – The lock is made out of a hard shell that simply covers the steering wheel. While very effective, the lock is bulky and requires more storage space when not in use.
- Pedal bar to steering wheel – The brake pedal is blocked and the thief cannot access it, or the steering wheel.
Extra deterrents are available in some of the steering locks in the market under the form of alarms or flashing lights.
Pedal Box Locks
Not many people know about pedal box locks but the number is growing. This manual device is basically a steel box put around pedals. Then, the box is locked with a lock, usually puck-style. Because of the positioning, it is very hard to remove if you do not have the key. It is also very noisy since the removal would involve cutting off the lock. Since pedals cannot be operated, the thief will not be able to move the vehicle.
Custom Made Hidden Switch
Unfortunately all the market security solutions also have ways to break them. So if someone is determined to steal your vehicle and is equipped with some really good tools and knowledge about what kind of security you have in your van, your van can not be 100% safe. But there is a really simple way to prevent someone from driving away with your van. Have an auto electrician install you a hidden on/off switch that disconnects the power to the vehicle.
You flip it off when you leave your van and no-one will be able to start your car as you will be the only one knowing where the switch is.
Gas Detector
It is not unusual for the thief to gas the people sleeping inside the van so they sleep soundly while he empties the van during the night. Install a gas detector that will sound an alarm in case this happens. These are special gas detectors (not the ones you have for CO or propane gas).
Inside Your Van
Another very useful thing to do is to hide your valuables inside your camper van. You average camper van is full of cabinets, drawers, storage space, bed, shower, kitchen, garage and loaded with all your belongings, sports gear etc… It is not that easy to find something that is hidden inside. Here are a few tips:
- Install a small safe for your most valuable items. It is best to have it welded to the car chassis.
- Install hidden drawers or hidden doors, removable cabinet bottoms etc… things like that. If you are the only one knowing of a place in you van it should be pretty safe from theft.
- Make sure you use them! It is a pain to hide everything every time you leave your van, but there might come a time you will be happy you did.
Final Thoughts
Combine a few of the security tips mentioned in this article next time you go on a trip and you should be fine. Remember, more different security systems and precautions are better than one.