Your Caravan IS NOT Safe - Caravan Theft is on the up! - Caravan Security
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 22 ก.ค. 2024
- With Caravan & Motorhome theft on the up it's imperative that you take steps to secure your pride & joy.
In this video Dave shares some top tips that we use to keep our caravan safe, based on the premise that prevention is better than cure.
We would be very interested in your views and ideas on van security so please leave a comment and if you've yet to subscribe, please do it now, thanks so much to all of our subscribers, old & new. Cheers, Dave & Helen
#caravan #security #theft
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Thank you so much for this vlog, it is really helpful.
Thanks Mike & Donna, appreciated 👍 Cheers Dave & Helen
And your can sleeps on the drive son, very much love your advice
😊👍 Thanks Barry, much appreciated 👍
Another great video Dave. Lots of worthwhile tips there thank you.
Thanks Terry, very much appreciated. ATB Dave & Helen
Very informative and useful vlog - thank you for taking the time to make it. Very much appreciated.
Cheers John, appreciate you watching and leaving a comment. ATB Dave & Helen
Another great Vlog Dave !
Thanks John, appreciated! Dave & Helen
Interesting Video, and hopefully you have done all you can to keep your van safe. 👌👌
Hi Paul & Suzanne, thanks for watching, I do hope so! ATB Dave & Helen
Hi Dave. Great video mate. Food for thought on that one. I have those coffee bags in the truck 👍by the way good plug on the coffee mug 😆 Cheers Paul and Sarah
Hi Paul, ditched instant now mate. Safe journeys and thanks for watching. ARB Dave & Helen 👍
Good channel. Real world advice 👍
Thank You David, that’s really appreciated by us both. ATB, Dave & Helen 👍
Just watched this thank you very interesting. A few things you mentioned we are going to look into. Thanks
Hi Joanne, thanks for watching, glad you found it useful. ATB, Dave & Helen 👍
Great video Dave. Have taken a few great tips from it for when we get ours.
Glad it was helpful Adam, thanks very much. Bet you can't wit to get your van. Take care, Helen & Dave
Nice tips Dave. Thanks for sharing. 👍 Graeme
Cheers Graeme, appreciate you watching and leaving a comment. ATB Dave & Helen
Whether useful or not? We purchased some large vinyl letters & numbers and put our postcode on the roof (not house number) so if stolen it can be more easily identified by a police helicopter or motorway cameras
Hi Paul, that’s a great idea, thanks for sharing 👍
Really useful Vlog packed full of information. Thanks for sharing. ATB Sue, Brian and The Westies 👍🐶🐾🐾🐾😀
Hi there Sue & Brian and thanks very much for watching and leaving a comment. ATB Dave & Helen 👍
Great Vlog Dave, thanks for sharing. Some good tips there. (I'm just catching up with vlogs :-) ) I've thought about the security posts, especially after having the car stolen. I beefed up my own security on the caravan and have 4 nemesis locks now. It might slow them down a bit at least.... Graham
Hi there Graham, you’ve had some terrible luck in the last year mate but really impressed with your approach and injection of humour 👍 you have a lovely caravan and your new tow car looks really smart. Thanks for watching, much appreciated, cheers Dave & Helen 👍
I'm just about to buy a small caravan for my own use - and this video was excellent in both it's presentation and in the invaluable information you shared. Cheers dude :)
Thanks Fred, very much appreciated, you mentioned before you were about to get a van. Wishing you many happy trips in it. ATB Dave & Helen 👍
Really useful video and sound advice, sadly our friends had a caravan stolen and it was never recovered. You can’t be too careful. 👍
I dread the thought, hope they were insured! Thanks for watching as always.
Hi Dave, good vid. A good one we do, as we have a motormover, is park the caravan nose-in to the house. Easy to turn around with the mover when we want to hitch up. Also got 2 cars parked in the drive overnight, and one in the day.
Hi Nick, yes that's a great tip!
When we were a two car family keeping one in front of the caravan was brilliant. Thanks very much for watching and taking the time to leave a comment Nick, really appreciated. ATB Dave & Helen.
Hi Dave and Helen. Thanks for a very helpful and informative vlog on this important subject. For someone who says he's not an expert, this was a really well put together video of products and advice which many folks will find useful. (Plus the coffee bags as an extra!) Although we've got a range of security devices on our van at home, it did prompt us to review what we've got to see if we can/need to make it better. Only other comment I have is that too many caravan insurers recognise only limited types/makes of security devices for discount or even insuring your van in the first place - but that's maybe more about their financial preferences than the quality of the devices themselves. Great video - many thanks. George and Trish
Hi there George & Trish, many thanks for watching and leaving a comment. A useful note ref: insurance companies and with recognised device brands. ATB Dave & Helen 👍
Great advice. Our caravan is on our drive with all the same locks as yours apart from the posts on drive. 🤔. Take care. Xx
Hi Keith & Alison, hope you’re both well and as always, thanks for watching. We wouldn’t have the posts if we hadn’t had a new drive 👍
Surprised that so many are stolen in the UK. What do they do with all the stolen stuff? They can't use them. In any case in Sweden, they must be inspected every year by the car inspection and during the inspection they inspect the chassis number to make sure it is the right vehicle they judge. From what I understand here, it's more the stuff inside that gets stolen.
Hi Göran, many thanks for watching and leaving a comment. It seems like the annual inspection as in Sweden would be a good deterrent and should be introduced in the UK. Not sure where they all go but it is widely reported that they are stolen to order and sold at a fraction of the retail cost of the caravan. Thanks again, Helen & Dave
Can’t get enough top tips!! It really does pay to keep your van as secure as possible
Agreed!
Very topical especially with delays on new vans and new parts fuelling a bigger black market for parts and vans. Very informative and well put together Dave. Best wishes Helen and Martin
Thanks, very much appreciated. Hope the weather is being kind to you 👍 ATB Helen & Dave
@@HelenandDave It's being playing up a bit but due to improve.😂
Thank you very much
Thanks for watching and leaving a comment 👍
great content as usual we were wondering wether to keep our van on the drive or put it into a storage facility, but like you say its easier too keep on the drive not just for saving a few hundred pounds but it makes life easier if you want to go away keeping it at home.
Thanks Kurt, yes we find it makes life a lot easier. Thanks for watching, cheers Dave & Helen 👍
Excellent stuff. Sometimes I wonder if I do too much! Why have one lock if you can have five! Better to be safe than sorry.
Hi Richard, I know, I wonder exactly the same too but somehow it’s the better to be safe than sorry but that keeps tugging at our minds. Thanks for watching Richard, cheers Dave & Helen 👍
Good information shared on my local storage Facebook Group Watsons Hotspot. Hopefully get you some more subscribers!
Thanks so much Jim, that’s really appreciated and very kind of you. Will check the group out ourselves too. ATB Dave and Helen 👍
Hi Dave, An interesting subject and some great tips. We have a tracker / alarm and are on our second five year deal with Phantom as it works out cheaper. By the way, we also use coffee bags in the caravan and have done so since we started touring. Cheers, Rob
Thanks Rob, I’ll take a look at Phantom 👍 Coffee bags are brilliant, which do you buy? ATB Dave & Helen 👍
@@HelenandDave We use Lyons No3 or 4. We purchased a box of 150 from Amazon as our local supermarkets no longer stock them. ☕ Best regards, Rob
Hi liked your video, I have the same bungalow setup as yours, missing the drive post, so I will fit that, surprised that there isn't a hitch lock that incorporating the 13 pin plug so that it cannot be connected, Regards Paul & Carole
Thanks for watching Paul & Carole, good point too ref hitch lock. ATB Dave & Helen
Some really good and useful advice. Don't think you can have enough security devices as you say just makes the potential thief think before making any attempt to take your van
Cheers Mark, completely agree! Thanks for watching and leaving a comment. ATB Dave & Helen
Can’t be too careful, that’s for sure!
Hi Keith & Terri, thanks for watching, we completely agree. Better safe than sorry but nothing is fool proof I guess. ATB Dave & Helen 👍
Just watched your security video and we were advised to add a graphic design or Sloan to our caravan to make it more recognised able.... We both also enjoy your vlogs thank you
HI there Bruce, thanks very much for watching and leaving a comment. That's a really good idea as well, they do all look pretty much the same. Appreciate your feedback. ATB, Dave & Helen.
Some good tips, although if it's a "professional" theft most trackers are ripped/dug out before the caravan even moves. It's the first thing they find and remove as it gives them more time to transport and hide the stolen caravan! I've worked in anti-theft of small construction machines and trackers usually have a usable life of about 5 minutes. Usually just enough time to notify the face the asset has moved or been disturbed, but not to give any information as to where it's being moved to. Trackers in most vehicles have to have a 15+ minute "access" barrier, which caravans don't have the physical structure to provide!
Thanks Simon, good to get feedback from first hand experience. I have to agree, nothing is really going to stop a professional who is intent on stealing your asset. Thanks for watching and leaving a comment. Cheers Dave & Helen 👍
Just found your channel & subscribed as liked the content. Someone as already said, if I do bring my caravan home I use the mover to turn it around, so not so easy to hitch up. I also leave the mover engaged on the wheel. Home vs storage, for me, if you regularly store your caravan at home & go away, you are advertising you are not there & may come home to find your house has been burgled. Pros & cons
Hi Bob, thanks very much indeed, appreciate it. Yes I know a few people who park nose in for the reason you mention. I was told not to leave the motor mover engaged as it can cause a flat spot on your tyres. You are right, pros and cons all round, you can only do your best at the end of the day. Thanks again for the sun, keep the comments coming, we love them. ATB Dave & Helen 👍
Hi Dave, I think they say the same about turning the wheels regularly to avoid flat spots when storing
@@bobbeard2517 yes they do 😄 👍
it is all about making it take time to steal. Slow them down enough and they will go elsewhere. good video and tips
Hi Dave, completely agree and thanks for watching. Heading up your way in May staying at Grantown On Spey 👍
@@HelenandDave We are heading that way next week. Not to the site though. Would be great to meet up if you have the time
@@DesmondsDonders I’ll message you with the date, if you’re around be good to see you 👍
Hi Dave and Helen, great advice as any added security will make it more time consuming and less attractive to steal, but from experience if the professional thieves want your caravan it will be gone regardless of how much security you have on it. I had a caravan stolen from a caravan site in 2014, it had hitch lock and angle grinder proof chains and locks (according to Towsure) on both wheels preventing turning. We were away for less than 2 hours and when we returned the caravan had been taken under the nose of the campsite owner who said he saw it towed off about 3 minutes before we returned. He said "I thought it was funny as it was being towed at a funny angle but assumed you were having it taken away for some repairs". Honestly? The site was listed as covered by CCTV but as we discovered it was not working at the time. How convenient was that. Now in my experience don't rely on any help from the police. We immediately contacted the police gave them a description of the tow vehicle (given by the campsite owner) and the caravan which was pretty unique as it was french registered and a model not common in UK at the time. We also told them the only routes they could be taking. It took about 20 minutes for an officer to arrive, during which time my son had been scouting the local area but difficult as there were four ways they could have taken. The first thing we asked the officer was, have you seen anything on the road cameras? any sightings? His reaction said it all, nothing had been done. All he was interested in was taking details so that he could give us a crime number. I kept saying please get on your phone and get things moving as the longer you leave it the further away they are getting but no, we have forms to fill. After about an hour of filling in this and that he gave us a card with name, station and telephone number to ring the next day. Full of expectations I dialled the number and a female answered, I told here the story and asked to speak to the officer and was asked why was I phoning. I said because the officer told me too. I can't remember her exact response but basically it was "don't call us we'll call you (sometime never)". Heard nothing more until some weeks later we received a letter saying case closed.
In hindsight we believe we were being watched for at least a day and during the night before they checked out the security on the van as we were woken in the night by some noise and possibly some flashing lights but couldn't see anything when opening the blind.
One tip that I would pass on regarding insurance that many might not realise (including us) and that is "CONTENTS". If you add up all the things you have in the caravan, perhaps cameras, laptops, phones, money, TV, clothes and other personal belongings etc etc. that may add up to quite a bit of money. Check the small print in your insurance as the contents insurance may be limited to quite a small amount. We found out ours was just €500 so even though we did "eventually" (that's another story - french van, french insurance stolen in UK) get an excellent payout on our caravan it cost us quite a lot replacing the contents.
Hi Dave, what an ordeal you went through with your caravan, we can only imagine the distress and total inconvenience that would have caused. Intimately though, I do completely agree. A caravan thief is generally experienced, equipped and determined and therefore your only hope is to make their task more complicated and more time consuming and hope that is deterrent enough. However, if they really want it they will get it. Let’s hope you don’t have suffer that ordeal again. Thanks for watching and leaving a comment. ATB, Dave & Helen 👍
❤
My mate had his caravan stolen from his drive last year, hitchlock on, wheel clamp on, alarmed with a tracker (later found in the hedge) .. it was taken and sold by professionals, but amazingly he got it back after the poor people that bought it got suspicious of mismatched etched numbers... the lesson I learned was, have good insurance.. if they want it.. they'll take it 😡
Completely agree, the professional thieves know the work arounds, so the insurance is key! Thanks for watching and leaving a comment, much appreciated, cheers Dave & Helen
Doing all that and more slows down someone who wants to make off with your caravan, always a good thing. You could also add a decent gate across the drive where it meets the path. But, until I watched this, I had no idea where you lived, but the clues are there, and in less than 30 seconds, I found your complete address online...
Finding people and their whereabouts as never been easier Bry I have to agree.
It's hard to hide you're address when you're a celebrity 😂. Most of us can be found in the public domain that's another good reason to cover as many bases as possible. If you can find my DOB you can send me a birthday card now 😉 Hope you're well 👍
We had our caravan stolen from dealers and we found out a couple of things that may help others 1. ask if you are insured by them the dealer/repairer or its on your own insurance then all security devices must be fitted! also if its on their ins it will be market value only. 2 After our caravan was stolen we claimed on our own ins new for old this was a fight that almost ended in the courts eventually it was settled but then we where told that they could no longer offer us ins cover as we had exceeded their maximum payout the problem then is trying to get insurance from another company because the first question is have you had a claim in the last 4 years ?
Great advice and hats off to you for standing up to the insurance companies!! I get really wound up with them because essentially they want to take your money and will then do everything possible to avoid paying out a claim! What’s the point of having insurance if it doesn’t work or your penalised for using it! Thanks for your valid comment. Cheers Dave & Helen 👍
Useful video and a subject often on my mind - I'm thinking there's one or two alarmed & immobilised cars parked in front of the caravan about 95% of the time, so it can only really be stolen from site during the day, would be interesting to know how many caravans get stolen then.
Thanks for watching, can’t be too careful 👍
And we know who is taking them!
How can you prove to ins company that you applied security devices?
Never been in that situation so not sure but normally there would be some kind of evidence at the scene of the crime or on recovered property. Example if tracker not activated there would be no GPS trace. If locked forced then the property if recovered would show signs of damage or remnants left at the scene of the crime. One thing you can be sure of is that an insurance company will do whatever they can not to pay out or increase future premiums.
If you do leave your caravan on your drive put it nose in away from the end of your drive and if possible a long side the property or part of it so it takes longer to turn around. You might need a mover but it will take extra time to steal it. A ring door bell is a simple security device that will alert you (buy the more advanced one). I have known owners remove a wheel but then left the spare underneath, ooops. Trackers can be found using a scanner so a professional install is recommended or one that you can turn on remotely. Some trackers have a limited range so harder to locate.
Never ever leave your caravan unattended in the services on the motorway as I have known some stolen from services while still attached to a car.
Hi, these are all brilliant tips, thanks for the message. We also never leave the caravan unattended at services! Thanks for watching and leaving such a valuable comment. Cheers Dave & Helen 👍
@@HelenandDave Hi also some caravans and motor homes get damaged in storage yards with dents and scrapes. It is very hard to prove who did the damage. We had a caravan stored between 2 motor homes and received several dents on both sides near the front where the motor home front doors would be alongside. I am sure it was accidental but no own owned up.
Are there internal locks available for the latches on the windows for a caravan?
This is something we don’t have and the only locks I’ve seen are these so I can’t recommend one way or the other. www.ebay.co.uk/itm/265391218374?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=idx0OPG3SCG&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=jTM0tkOWQ3e&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY
The other thing that I think makes it a bit harder to steal is have the front/Tow-bar pointing up the driveway towards the House. Means they have to turn the Caravan right round to take it. I’m from New Zealand so that’s a massive amount of Caravans stolen. Just wondering were would they end up.
Hi there Brett, yep, that’s another really good idea. Actually I know a couple of people who do that and have a tow bar bolted to the wall too, so they can apply the hitch lock to it. Thanks for watching and leaving a comment, all the way from New Zealand. Cheers Dave & Helen
These people who steal caravans are so unafraid of anything.
They use battery disc grinder as you pointed out in your video scaffolding poles.
Also would you confront these people
I've fitted a removable jockey wheel handle it like a locking wheel nut type so handle removed and always stored in my car ,I fitted it because I heard Caravans going missing at service station while your having a cuppa n a bite to eat so I drop the jockey wheel down handle removed store it in car
Aswel as alko hitch lock of corse
Hi Ian, another great tip 👍 Thanks for watching and leaving a comment, much appreciated. Cheers Dave & Helen 😊
The caravan manufacturers need to up their game and build in better security features. Better habitation door locks, integrated wheel locking both sides, a proximity chip that disables the lighting system would be a start. I have ALKO wheel locks on a twin axle, ALKO hitch lock, Sergeant tracker and two extra wheel clamps. The Milenco door lock is a good idea but it may void your body warranty as you have to drill through it to fit the thing, again the manufacturers could step up here.
Excellent suggestions 👍 certainly car manufacturers strive to ensure quality security features and given the vulnerability of caravans you would think it would be the same for caravan manufacturers. Thanks for watching 👍
I'd like to know what the ratio is of where the caravans were stolen from - I bet mose are from 'secure' lockups. Glad I have mine on the drive - also add lots of other locks and chains to it.
Thanks very much for watching and your comment. I’m not sure either where these vans are stolen from, can’t find the stats but I think we’re lucky to be able to keep our caravans well secured at home. ATB Dave & Helen 👍
Hi Helen and Dave. Brilliant video, thank you. we are interested in what security cameras on your home you are using. We are about to move into a bungalow and want to put our caravan on our drive, but we are finding difficulty finding the right cameras for us. Particularly as we are worried that someone can reach them. If you could let us know what system you use we would be very grateful. Thanks, Deborah and Tim
Hi Deborah & Tim, thanks for watching. I’ll have to get back to you ref cameras, we are away just now and I’d need to check (remind me, memory is not what it was) 👍 Dave & Helen
@@HelenandDave Ha ha, will do! Hope you're having a great time
Just a reminder Dave if you've time....😊
@@deborah1901 do you have an email address I can send you pics to please?
Our email caravantastic@hotmail.com
We have every conceivable security device on our 2019 Bailey Phoenix apart from a Tracker. Don't want one, would not want our caravan back after some sounds like Dikey has lived in it.
We are of the same opinion, not really sure we would want our van if it was ever stolen. Fingers crossed, like you, we have safeguarded against any such eventuality. Thanks for watching and leaving a comment. ATB, Dave and Helen 👍
We take the wheels off ours
That’s a great idea Gaynor 👍
Dave, it seems to me that most thefts are from storage or from service areas, especially on motorways. I'm not aware of significant numbers being stolen whilst in use. What do you think ?
Yes, I would tend to agree with you. 👍
Newto caravaning
Hi Melonie, thanks for watching and good luck on your travels. Dave & Helen
Where do you get Milenco door frame locks for £45? That model is £172 on Amazon.
That's a rip off!! here it is for £46 almost 2 years after making the video www.greentrees-caravanstore.co.uk/shop/towing-security-fire/milenco-superior-door-lock/?Google%20Shopping&WooCommerce&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAo7KqBhDhARIsAKhZ4ugF0BQpSrZhxOcknIpmgNXebozQpBW6yqLSpYw7KLcUp3L6oQwkju4aAjmbEALw_wcB Also available on e-bay £26
Thank you for the quick reply @@HelenandDave ! Amazon certainly does seem to be cashing in on caravan security. Thanks for the link.
You're welcome Justin, thanks for watching. Helen & Dave@@justinarnolduk
If they want it they will take it, so make them not want it. The more time it takes to get through your locks, the less likely they will want it
Hi Mark & Coral, on the button!! Thanks for watching and leaving a comment. Appreciated, Dave & Helen
My German sheppard sleeps in my motorbike shed. Best of luck if they want to take my bike as he really hates the world 🤣
😂 The best security device you can get Richard 👍 ATB, Dave & Helen 👍
Wow you must have a massive bunch of keys
🤣😂🤣😂
That type of hitch lock is a waste of time, the thieves will have it off in seconds.
Hi Ashley, a determined thief will steel anything but needs to be equipped. No hitch or wheel lock or security device is fool proof which is why we have multiple devices fitted. The goal is to make it time consuming and inconvenient for a would be thief. Thanks for watching. Helen & Dave
I had cctv all around my house didnt stop them robbing my house whilst I was asleep and my 3 year old daughter in bed , stole our car our keys to the second car lucky they missed the autosleeper keys .....I sleep in it now on the drive so the scum will have to take me with it ....fitted a quick release stearing wheel also .....take your wheels off altogether carnt tow it away then .
So sorry to hear that! Sadly nothing will stop those who are intent on stealing from others. All we can do is try our best to deter them. Thanks for sharing your experience and watching the video. ATB Dave and Helen
So sorry to hear that! Sadly nothing will stop those who are intent on stealing from others. All we can do is try our best to deter them. Thanks for sharing your experience and watching the video. ATB Dave and Helen