How do you prevent theft?

Eaglemax · Guru

How do you prevent theft?

Relax-n · Guru

We use a hitch lock, where ever the van is. Have 2 Trojan wheel locks, both on van when home(as van in front yard), and one when travelling, which is carried on spare wheel. Have wire cable with padlock which threads through chairs and small table when off site.

Try not to have too much more around as too much then to pack up

Touch wood, nothing has been fiddled with yet.......

Mike Harding · Guru

I generally camp in the bush so there are few people around but...

It depends what the item you are trying to protect is:

The Honda generator either goes with me or is locked in the van if I am leaving camp for any time, normally it's chained to a tree and I'm happy to leave it like that for short periods.

Chairs and the like I take a chance on, not high value and, as mentioned no others around - so far so good.

I have some very expensive gear (radios, computers) but most casual thieves would not know what they are or their value so, again, I take a chance and leave them in the van.

The van just has a basic hitch lock - that's what insurance is for. A determined thief with a petrol driven angle grinder will get through most anti-theft devices fairly easily.

The other thing I do if leaving camp for any time is put a USB stick, on repeat, in the caravan "radio" with talk audio and also close the en-suite door - it creates a little confusion for anyone who may approach the van.

blissonwheels · Senior Member

Gooday,

Regrettably you can only provide a deterrent, had a 2 different types of hitch locks in the past but gave them to another new caravaner, problem is they will connect the safety chains together, drop that over the ball and drive down the road or to a secluded place and remove the hitch lock, one of the downsides of so many battery operated power tools. We have a Wheel clamp we use when we have to leave our caravan unattended, only a deterrent sadly.

We have had a bad run of house Burglaries where we live in recent months, a Fossil Village, I was alerted to a commonly used gimmick the other day how they open Roller or Panel Doors. Get a wire coat hanger or piece of stiff wire, straighten it out, put a hook on the end, poke it over the top of the door to catch the piece of rope dangling down from the emergency release, pull, then slowly roll up the door, Bingo you are then in.

Hendo · Guru

Crossed fingers and a hope for the best!

Whenarewethere · Guru

Let your tyres down. Not to many people carry 1.2kW of compressor resources to pump up quickly, if they are aware in the first place. They will get about 100 metres if they are lucky.

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

Stay away from people.
Cheers,
Peter

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

Blue and white checkered ribbon . RBT sign . Never had an issue !

shanem · Veteran Member

hey guys some good ideas there.
I have just bought a Kovix hitch lock that is said to make a bit of a racket if fiddled with - yet to test it - i'm told that professional thieves will simply remove the whole ball cup, install their own and drive off.
I have also a wheel clamp.
plus I have a little surprise all over the van structure. leave you to think about that.
in our just sold previous van wewe had an ALKO antitheft system that included GPS tracking AND microdots sprayed throughout the van structure as ti was built (so could never be removed).

Southern Cruizer · Guru

blissonwheels wrote:
Gooday,
Regrettably you can only provide a deterrent, had a 2 different types of hitch locks in the past but gave them to another new caravaner, problem is they will connect the safety chains together, drop that over the ball and drive down the road or to a secluded place and remove the hitch lock, one of the downsides of so many battery operated power tools. We have a Wheel clamp we use when we have to leave our caravan unattended, only a deterrent sadly.
We have had a bad run of house Burglaries where we live in recent months, a Fossil Village, I was alerted to a commonly used gimmick the other day how they open Roller or Panel Doors. Get a wire coat hanger or piece of stiff wire, straighten it out, put a hook on the end, poke it over the top of the door to catch the piece of rope dangling down from the emergency release, pull, then slowly roll up the door, Bingo you are then in.

With roller doors on shed, was shown by a shop owner once who had the delivery door at back of shop, to drill out a narrow elongated piece each side of the sliding channel and then slip a length of flat steep about 3/8th's or so wide through the hole and 99.9% of the time if you don't allow too much room the flat steel goes between the ribs on the roller door that makes it nearly impossible to get it up at all. Have used this method for the last 20 plus years and quite a few who have visited me at some time have also used it and they to have never had a problem

PetenSue · Veteran Member

We have 2 antitheft devices. 44 kgs in total so no good for the weight spread sheet people. Quite expensive to get a good one and the ongoing maintenance costs can add up. But they are very efficient because they have an extremely sharp end that crims are scared of !!! 2 red cattle dogs. Good luck pinching anything from my camp. Regards Pete.

miroku12g · Senior Member

With good battery side grinders it's hard to stop any theft, i just use a chain through wheel, around chassis with a padlock, but if they want it they will have it, of course a 12G by bedside will help a lot !

Dave & Maz

Bow · Veteran Member

Peter_n_Margaret wrote:
Stay away from people.
Cheers,
Peter

Peter, that is the most sensible thing you have ever written. We stay away from towns and never have a problem.

Whenarewethere · Guru

Tired old items with sticky tape, zip ties & splints holding things together, paint falling off or touched up in the wrong colour look less enticing.

elliemike · Guru

I must be lucky as I have never had anything stolen while camping. That includes camping in UK/Europe, USA, New Zealand, Australia, Also back packing in Malaysia and Java, over a period from 1958 when I was a Kid to present day.

Although we have been on two Caravan parks in Australia where stuff was stolen from other people Esperance and Port Lincoln, some years ago now.

I never chain anything up. Sat dish or Portable Solar panels. We on the other hand don't have a big rig so do not have much else outside.

TheHeaths · Guru

I must admit that like Mike and Ellie, we have been fortunate in not having anything stolen either in parks or when freedom camping.

We do put expensive items away if leaving the site for any period of time, but we are not obsessive with it.

I guess we are just lucky, or we have unwanted stuff!

blaze · Guru

same as the previous 2 posters. Had 2 years in broome in a cp, very rarely even shut the doors on the annex. The annex was full as you would expect from being permanent but had no theft. There was a small amount in the park while we were there. Good insurance for peace of mind
cheers
blaze
ps
working with a sparky one day and picked his battery drill up to use. It had about 20 layers of tape holding it together. It turns out it was a week old. He told me his last one was about 5 years old when it buggered up but had been just about the only tool that wasnt knocked off from a building site, it to was taped up

cjt55 · Senior Member

Never had a problem. I just never leave anything out of any real value. Those items that I do are secured by a cheap combination cable lock from Bunnings. It is just a deterrent nothing else. If a thief wants something they will get it.

Lucid · Newbie

Get hold of the front cover to a crummy radio and fit it over the front of you flash stereo with a magnet. Take it off when you get back.
Remove your hitch and leave a padlock through one of the holes.
Get a motorhome and wire it up with a seriously loud alarm.
I have more ideas too.

Tony Bev · Guru

I stay in free/donation/low cost sites 99% of the time, so I can not comment on caravan parks

I also try to avoid, any camps close to large towns

I introduce myself to fellow travellers

When I had a caravan, if I was going into town, I would ask if they required anything, and could they keep an eye on my rig/stuff

In a motorhome, it is not unusual for me to leave, floor mat/chairs/table etc, when going into town (unless rain is due while I am away)

By using what I would call, neighbourhood watch on wheels, I can not remember having anything stolen