Caravan security

[dugiandcarol]

Hello everyone
We are considering fitting a small secure box/safe into caravan any idea,s suggestions as to best place to fit one any other tips on security would be greatly appreciated

 

[RogerL]

I'd suggest that because caravans are built to reduce weight, there's nowhere solid/secure enough to fit a secure box - not taking valuables and keeping things out of view are the best suggestions I can make.

 

[pensioner]

We have solved this problem with a car safe,,it's called an S-5 satellite.

It's secured by a heavy cable in the boot and cannot be removed from the cable unless the safe is open. With car alarm set each time we feel happy that the bits we put in there are secure.

Can be purchased from AUTOSAFE

 

[WoodlandsCamper]

We used Autosafe products at work for many years, especially the size that would take a laptop in its protective bag. We anchored them in the boot with the security cable going through the luggage anchor points. Specified car anchorage points are designed to stop heavy weights moving around/breaking free in the event of an accident, so should deter most potential thieves (unless they have bolt croppers with them ). As stated above, any thief still has to get past the car alarm.

 

[SteveW77]

I just fitted a digital safe from screw fix, under one of the dinette seats, metal plate on outside under the floor, coach bolts through from the bottom. only way to remove is to cut through the floor. If they get that far, then nothing will stop them.

 

[RogerL]

Cautioning you not to give too much away on a public forum - can I ask just what valuables people have that need such protection as a safe, either in the car or the caravan?

 

[Gozza]

Given how easy caravans are to break into...almost anything! Passport, spare money and credit card (so you don't lose everything if you lose your wallet), tickets, camera (if I'm not using it)...

 

[SteveW77]

Cautioning you not to give too much away on a public forum - can I ask just what valuables people have that need such protection as a safe, either in the car or the caravan?

I think it would be a very unusual thief that went equipped to remove large chunks of a caravan floor.
I do not think whilst on a site, one could work under a caravan sawing through the floor without someone coming over to see what was going on.
As for what do I use it for, Passports, credit cards, cash (both sterling & Euros) cameras, ferry tickets, spare car keys and my medication, without which I would be in serious trouble.

 

[RogerL]

Having cut holes in caravan floors to fit things in the past, you don't need much in the way of "tools" - thieves won't be concerned about a neat job.

 

[Raywood]

Even if thieves find the box I doubt they would attack it, The time when the valuables would be inside the safe is when you are on holiday. The caravan is going to be on a site or other public place so cutting holes in the floor would attract attention and that is not what they want given they would not even know if there was anything in it.

 

[bertieboy1]

I would avoid taking or having anything valuable in the van.Thieves would just rip out the strongbox causing lots of damage,take it away and force it open at their leisure somewhere else.

 

[SteveW77]

Even if thieves find the box I doubt they would attack it, The time when the valuables would be inside the safe is when you are on holiday. The caravan is going to be on a site or other public place so cutting holes in the floor would attract attention and that is not what they want given they would not even know if there was anything in it.

Exactly.

 

[Gozza]

As I said on the thread about caravan storage, there's no such thing as 100% secure If a determined professional thief is determined to get something that he can only find in my house, car, caravan, garage or whatever, he's going to get it - the best you can do is make it easier for the casual thief to go somewhere else. A well hidden strong box is one way to achieve this.

As for not taking valuables away in the caravan - well generally I agree, but you've got to carry either cash or a credit card (or have a really cheap holiday and pay your site fees in advance). And having fallen victim to a pickpocket, I now always leave a spare credit card and some cash, somewhere secure that a casual thief isn't going to get hold of.

 

[Dustydog]

The fake can of baked beans safe amongst the groceries is as good as anything else.

 

[Gafferbill]

..........nothing is secure nowadays!
However your locked tow car is much more secure than your caravan if the items are hidden and out of sight.

 

[RayS]

I'm with SteveW77. A big spreader plate on the underside of the floor, nylock nuts inside the box and it's going to take a while to tear it our or otherwise get it open. My - fortunately second hand - experience of on-site robberies has been that that they been conducted very quickly indeed - one or two minutes - and that anything secured in even a moderate way has been left (although sometimes deliberately damaged). Prescription drugs and even OTC painkillers need some protection as the consequences of loss may be severe and not only financial.

My last-but-two towcar - MB ML270 - had an excellent strong box built into the underside of the drivers seat - for the size and strength a very good value cost option, which I would like to see available on more vehicles.

 

[SteveW77]

..........nothing is secure nowadays!
However your locked tow car is much more secure than your caravan if the items are hidden and out of sight.

As someone who has had 3 cars stolen and 2 broken into, I disagree with the above statement.
I cannot remember the last time I left my caravan parked on a dark public car park for the evening while I went to the theatre. which I must admit it is one of the reasons I did not buy a motorhome.

 

[MichaelE]

If he really wanted it he could quote easily cut it whilst in the van, to be honest you don't see many thieves carrying saws about?
Using the fake can is a good idea but there are loads of nooks and crannies around the van to hide things, save your money

 

[chrisbee1]

If he really wanted it he could quote easily cut it whilst in the van, to be honest you don't see many thieves carrying saws about?
Using the fake can is a good idea but there are loads of nooks and crannies around the van to hide things, save your money

Indeed. In my last van their was a void to the side of one of the overhead lockers. I removed the screws fixing the locker side wall and fitted magnetic catches to the back. It gave a handy place to store valuables and although not secure if you didn't know it was there you'd have to be lucky to find it.