Discovering the outdoors, travelling around the country and meeting new people are just some of the reasons that you might choose to go camping or caravanning. Most people have very happy memories of cooking round the campfire and enjoying nature, but some, unfortunately, fall victim to theft, which can ruin the whole holiday.

With that in mind, we’ve put together our top tips for preventing theft while camping or caravanning, so your holiday is a happy, carefree one that you can remember for years to come.

 

Ahead of your trip

Choose a safe area

When choosing your campsite, keep in mind safety and security. The more rural your campsite is, the safer it is. A rural campsite is less likely to have calculated thieves nearby looking for valuables to steal.

Try to set up your tent or caravan somewhere that can’t be seen from the road, which will limit passers-by who can see your belongings.

Consider what you’re bringing

Before you set off, consider whether you really need to bring all your fancy gadgets and valuables. Think about whether you’d be upset if your belongings were stolen and then if you can, leave them at home where you know that they’ll be safe (assuming you’ve taken steps to secure your home whilst you’re away!).

 

Break ins

A burglar or thief will usually take a look around before they choose a caravan or tent to break into. This is your opportunity to put them off.

Keep valuables out of sight

The first step is to make sure that your belongings are kept out of sight. If a burglar can’t see your items, then they might not think it’s worth the risk of breaking in. Always put away any valuables after you’ve used them, and try not to make it obvious that you have them whilst you’re using them.

Introduce yourself

Whether you’re in a caravan or a tent, the first thing you should do when you arrive at your campsite is get to know your fellow campers. Build a sense of trust, and you’ll have someone to watch your belongings, and someone to let you know if there’s been anything suspicious going on, and you can do the same to them.

Lock them up

If you’re camping, and you’re leaving your tent for the day, then consider putting your belongings in your car. More specifically, put it out of sight in your car, and then lock your car. At night, if you’ve got a particularly roomy sleeping bag, you could leave valuables at the bottom of it while you’re sleeping. A thief won’t be able to access any of your valuables without waking you up first.

For caravans, you can find small safes suitable for caravans on our website here. Having a safe in your caravan adds that extra layer of security for your valuables – it means that if someone were to break in, you’d know that your valuables were protected.

Added security

Windows and door locks are an extra security measure that you can take to help prevent caravan break ins. They will make it harder for the thief to get into your caravan, and could potentially put them off altogether. Similarly, alarm systems both act as a deterrent and would alert the local area to an intrusion.

 

Theft

Without precautions, caravan theft is surprisingly easy to pull off. That’s why it’s very important to make sure that yours is secure.

Wheel clamps

A wheel clamp demobilises your vehicle by attaching to your wheel. There are number of different types available, with some covering the wheel and some going through the spokes or gaps in the hub.

Go for an accredited device, and you may find that you make a saving on your caravan insurance premium.

Hitch locks

One of the most popular caravan security additions is a hitch lock. They cover and lock your towing hitch mechanism, so that no one else can use your hitch to tow your caravan away. Again, you may find that your insurance premiums are reduced.

Tracking device

If you are unlucky enough to have your caravan stolen, a tracking device will give you true peace of mind as it significantly improves the chances of recovery. There are a number of different types available, so make sure you get the right one for your needs.