You would never leave your home unlocked and vulnerable to thieves and, with a static caravan representing a huge financial investment, the same safety procedures should be applied to your holiday home. When the holiday season comes to an end, your static caravan and its contents can be a target for burglars. Our top tips will help you protect your static caravan and keep it as safe as possible.
Holiday parks – choosing the right one
Choosing the best holiday park for your static caravan is really important and there are features to look out for before making a commitment to a specific site.
1 Ask if the site has membership to local ‘caravan park watch’ schemes. Here, in Lincolnshire, members of this scheme have seen less theft and fewer associated crimes.
2 What caravan security measures does the site employ? For example, are there security patrols or on-site CCTV/alarm monitoring?
3 A good site will expect you to empty your static caravan of any valuables such as a television, at the end of the season. Although this can be a nuisance, Lincolnshire police believe it is 'the single most important factor in stopping out-of-season crime on holiday parks.'
4 Many parks will work with owners to reduce risks, and it is worth finding out if they offer a property marking service.
Property marking
There are several methods for marking your property, some of which are permanent, like etching and engraving, and others which will need to be repeated, such as writing with UV pens; this can be seen under UV light but will fade over time. If your park has a property registration scheme, join it and use window stickers to show you are part of the scheme – a sticker can act as a deterrent to would-be thieves and opportunistic burglars, and may put them off. When joining these schemes, list all your property, with measurements, serial numbers and photos. Give one list to the park office and keep one yourself.
Caravan alarms
An alarm is a great deterrent for thieves who know that it will warn others of their presence. Depending on the alarm, it may be heard across the caravan park, alerting other holidaymakers, park staff and security to a potential break-in. Always check with the park before installing an alarm, to ensure that you will not be in breach of their policies, and use window stickers to advertise the presence of an alarm as this may be enough to prevent a thief from even trying to gain access. The Sterling Magnetic Contact Door Alarm is activated if the magnetic contact is broken and will emit a loud 100dB alarm, making it ideal for caravan use.
Caravan security locks
Always ensure that all window and door locks are in good working order and that windows are in good condition so that they cannot be broken easily. A cam lock will provide added security and is ideal for static caravan windows. Made from stainless steel, this type of lock is strong and durable and resistant to high temperatures, chemicals and liquids. Where window locks are installed, never leave keys visible or hide them nearby where they could be found and used.
Remove valuable items
When holidaying in your static caravan, it isn’t practical to remove all valuables when you pop out for the day or just for an hour. In these instances, ensure that valuables are out of sight and away from windows if they can be seen. Invest in a caravan safe or a novelty safe that comes in the form of household items including tins of soup and books. At the end of the season, remove all valuables and leave the curtains and cupboards open – this will show thieves that the caravan is empty and there is nothing inside to steal which may be enough to put them off.
At Bec Ingoldmells, we stock high quality security products from leading brands and we are happy to help and advise you on your security needs. Simply call or email and our staff will do everything they can to assist.
