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Post Info TOPIC: Security for caravans
Gerty Dancer


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Security for caravans
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Following on from the story about the stolen van in Adelaide,  I would be interested to know the best way of protecting our van from theft?

While admitting that a determined thief is impossible to deter, there has to be ways of making it hard for him. We have a lock on the hitch, and have thought about wheel locks but they are awfully heavy to carry around. I'm sure there must be some fancy new devices available?

Edited for typo

-- Edited by Gerty Dancer on Saturday 27th of November 2010 09:45:05 AM

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brickies


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I have a hitch lock but always put the 4 legs down , I lower the front slightly then putt the back legs down lift front up a little with jockey wheel then put the front wheels down which would make it harder to do a quick hitch up and go

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BobnBev


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Hi Gerty Dancer, Its simple, have a van thats not worth pinching..just joking mate couldnt help my self..it is hard to travel and leave your van when you go to look see..We always try to camp with others, when we can .The lock on the hitch is about the best thing......

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jimbo


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Sorry gertie dancer ( making it hard for him) There are females thiefs around too.

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BobnBev


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do you think I should lock up the misses as well jimbo. Naaar no one would pincher.. BIG smile ok ...I love err ta bits.. No I dont have any thing better to do, sitting here in Melbourne in the wet waiting for the ferry on monday.. Bloody rain...

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petengail


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I guess the hitch is the way to go, never had a van stolen but have had two boats stolen

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Onedodger


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biggrin Yes hitch lock is the way to go and as said previously wind all legs down fairly hard so that it is difficult to wind up unless well equiped.
I have seen some vanners with a wheel clamp as used by the tow away guys.

Also seen a sign on the door of a van that read... THIS VAN IS INSURED BY SMITH & WESTON...smilesmilesmile

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Gerty Dancer


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Onedodger wrote:

biggrin Yes hitch lock is the way to go and as said previously wind all legs down fairly hard so that it is difficult to wind up unless well equiped.
I have seen some vanners with a wheel clamp as used by the tow away guys.

Also seen a sign on the door of a van that read... THIS VAN IS INSURED BY SMITH & WESTON...smilesmilesmile


That sounds like it would be effective OD!

 



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Cruising Granny


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Is nothing safe anymore?
We live in the 'burbs and have to put everything under lock and key, have security fences and gates with cameras, alarms and screens.
Now we have to lock our vans up to a stupid degree to stop some scavenger from hitching up and driving it off.
Is this more likely on free camps or in van parks?
Many parks are secured in some way these days, but not all are safe.
I haven't seen it myself anywhere, but I have heard of it happening.
Hitch lock seems to be the best and simplest way to go.
When I'm parked up long term the van is on stands, the legs are down, but I haven't thought about a hitch lock.
I've also seen a locking bolt for the Hayman Reese hitch as well.
Why do we have to?
Bring respect for other people's property and person back, please!

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_wombat_


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There will always be somebody who wnats what you have got but does not want to work for it.

A couple of years ago we were in the nearest caravan park to Melbourne airport, in bed @ 0100 when there was a loud cracking noise, after investigating we found our partly open window had been snapped open, we scared him/her away when we got up, police did not bother to come until the next afternoon, caravan park owners were not interested, told us to go to the police, they did eventually come out, took fingerprints around the window and did nothing else about it.

I use a hitch lock to stop our van being stolen, also have an alarm system inside the van, If anybody gets in they would not be able to stay in there because of the high pitched sound, its a portable unit you can get then from Bunnings, around $70-$110

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jimricho


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Good idea to check one's insurance policy re having an "anti theft" device fitted, e.g. hitch lock. My policy states that a locking device must be fitted and that chain and padlock is not sufficient.

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brickies


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Who are you with Jim

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Cruising Granny


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Most park owners and operators take no responsibility for crimes committed in their park.
They will always advise you to contact the Police and deal with it yourself.
We can't blame the park operators for the actions of the criminals who want our stuff.

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jimricho


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brickies wrote:

Who are you with Jim


APIA  (used to be called Australian Pensioners Insurance Agency).... I'm going from memory on that lock issue so if challenged I'd have to pull out the policy and check it.. Apia is owned by Suncorp and the insurance issued by Australian Allaince Insurance,  claims are (or were last time I had a claim) handled by AAMI

I have other policies with them, House and contents, Vehicle, Van, Landlord.

I haven't check prices lately (should do so) but I had no problem with a vehicle claim a few years back.

 



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bigfoot


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have only heard this one but a van can be towed away using the chains

so secure the chains to cover this

we have the alarm conected to the mobile phone okay for most areas

and our insurance company is Beretta 

cheers

bigfoot

-- Edited by bigfoot on Monday 29th of November 2010 04:27:31 PM

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Gerty Dancer


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Welcome to the forum Bigfoot!

Good point about the chains, and easy enough to secure them too.

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justcruisin01


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There is only so much you can do, if they realy want it all the locks & chains wont stop them.
Think about this, tilt trays recover wrecked cars & vans every day, dont even need wheels on them just attach a winch rope & pull them onto the tray.
This may be the extreme cases but it does happen.I have picked up many cars this way from stolen, burnt out or dumped & no one takes any notice as its a normal activity.



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Gerty Dancer


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Yeah I know JC... cant stop a determined thief, but whatever we can do to make it harder for the b#%*%^*'s is worth a try.

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pricey43


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We have taken photos all around the van. including the hitch lock and the wheel lock. We leave these pictures at home. Its no good having them in the van if its stolen. Can then show the insurance company what precautions we have taken.

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chris & terry


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This is a late posting on this topic, I just logged on. I use a high tensile steel rope, feed it through the wheel & around the tyre, loop around the spring, loop it then around the axle, around the opposite axle, through the opposite wheel & tyre, & secure with a high tensile lock, (hopefully to stop taking the wheels off & refitting others). Does not take up much space or weight to store. But still only good for the opportunistic thief, suppose they could cut it with a grinder if they really wanted too. Nun the less it makes me feel better when fitted & I am away from the van.

Regards terry

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brickies


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Gees mate I am a grey nomad I don't think I could handle that little exercise but I am sure it would work

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TraceyandKim


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Please can you tell me the name of your alam

Thank you

Tracey



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Snippy


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We use a Nemisis wheel lock and a fairly standard hitch lock.

Our new hitch also has a builtin lock. (New Alko swivel hitch.)

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