GORV - Digital Magazine Issue #45 | Page 18

Making contact with your neighbours can be great for security but be careful who you trust .
Gate security at a caravan park .
Positioning : Where you park your RV on your property can also make it more difficult for a thief . Many caravans are stolen on flat-bed trucks using a winch . If your van is parked in your driveway , facing the road , it ’ s an easy target . If you have to park the van in the front yard , park it parallel to the road or as close to a fence , lengthwise , as possible .
Remove the jockey wheel : When you park your van , support the van using the stabiliser legs or vehicle stands and remove the jockey wheel . This will make it difficult for a thief to move your van into a more convenient position to remove it .
ON THE ROAD
Taking a caravan out on your holidays introduces a new set of security issues . A thief trying to steal your van is one thing , but thieves breaking into your van is probably the most likely situation you may encounter .
Stay in caravan parks : If you intend to do a lot of day trips within your holiday location , consider staying in a caravan park rather than a free camp . While it ’ s not unheard of , the presence of staff and gate security means it is far more difficult for a thief to remove vans from caravan parks .
Keep doors locked : It stands to reason when you leave your van unattended that you should lock the door and all external storage lockers . You should also do this at night when you ’ re sleeping in the van . Thieves prefer the cover of night .
Secure valuables : It amazes me to see caravans ( or any camping vehicle / style for that matter ) left unattended for hours on end , with generators , fridges , bicycles and other expensive equipment just lying around , unsecured and ripe for the picking . If you must leave your gear outside , consider using heavyduty chains or good quality bicycle locks to make the thief ’ s job less convenient .
18 \