Protecting your caravan against theft

Although we don’t like to think about it, unfortunately there are some less than pleasant people out there who may see your caravan as an opportunity for theft. Coast receives several calls each year from customers who’ve had property or even their entire touring caravan stolen, which is why we’ve put together the following advice on protecting your precious cargo:

1. Never leave valuable goods on display, make sure they are safely stored away in a locked cupboard or take them with you when leaving your caravan

2. Mark items of valuable with your surname and postcode using a UV marker – if unfortunately it does get stolen, this will make it easier to trace and return

3. Leave your curtains open when your caravan is empty, as it shows potential thieves you have nothing of worth in reach

4. When you’re leaving your caravan unattended for a long period of time, open cupboard doors to prove they are empty

5. Make friends with your neighbours and don’t be afraid to ask them to keep an eye out for anything suspicious when you’re not around

6. If you store items in a shed or external container close by, make sure it is structurally sound and keep it padlocked at all times

7. Make sure any loose items outside the caravan such as bicycles and BBQs are stowed away or chained to the outside of your caravan when not in use

8. Touring caravans should be fitted with a wheel clamp and hitch lock for a single axle models or two wheel clamps (alternatively, one wheel clamp and a manufacturers alarm in operation) and a hitch lock for twin axles to prevent the caravan itself being stolen. You may also like to install a burglar alarm for peace of mind

9. During the winter, store your caravan at a park with a good security record or inside a locked building such as a warehouse. If you’re planning to keep it at your home, you can fit a light movement sensor to the caravan which makes a sound in your house if it is set off

10. To protect yourself in the event of theft, take out tailored caravan insurance cover both during and outside of the touring season

For a competitive quote on your touring caravan insurance or static caravan insurance, call the Coast sales team on Freephone 0800 614 849 or visit our Quotation Page.