Crime prevention tips

Mar 21 2008 by Andrew Hirst, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

HERE are some commonsense safety and crime prevention tips.

If the caravan is parked on your drive protect it with a security light with a movement sensor that should ideally also give an audible chime inside the house when someone is around the caravan. The chime works during the daytime even though the light does not illuminate.

Fit metal security posts cemented into the ground in front of the caravan.

Fit substantial gates or a security post to your driveway.

If you have an expensive caravan then think about a Tracker device. This will be activated once the caravan is stolen which means police will be able to track it via a satellite signal and catch the thieves.

Fit an alarm system to the caravan that uses the 12-volt battery to alarm entry into the caravan. It can also be fitted with a tilt or vibration sensor to detect it being towed away.

There is even an alarm system on the market that will alert the owner via a mobile telephone that the alarm has been activated.

Security mark the caravan. Since 1992 the National Caravan Council has recognised that manufacturers have stamped the vehicle identification number on the vehicle chassis. This 17-digit number has also been etched into the windows. Check your caravan and if it is not marked in this way, get it done.

Mark valuables and interior fitments inside your caravan with your postcode using a special etching tool or engraver. If you use a security marker pen, the writing will only show up under ultra violet light and may fade with time. Keep a note of these numbers at home along with a photo of your caravan. This will help the police identify and return a stolen caravan and its contents.

Wheel clamps can be used as deterrent, but ensure that the clamp wraps around the wheel sufficiently not to allow the tyre to be deflated, the clamp taken off and the tyre re-inflated. Use lock-nuts on the caravan wheels.

Alternatively jack up the caravan and place it on to axle stands or something similar. Take the wheel off and put three locking wheel nuts back on to the wheel studs. This will prevent thieves placing a wheel back on to the axle and towing it away.

Lock the coupling head into a cover with a hitchlock.

Fit a special caravan deadlock to the door so thieves cannot just smash a window and turn a door handle.

All the security devices should conform to Sold Secure Standards which means they have been extensively tested. See the website at www.soldsecure.com