Vin chip.....good idea?

[Gafferbill]

All new caravans are to have a Vin Chip and you can buy a retro fit kit for older caravans.

My first thought was .....the retro fit kit is a good idea for older caravans.
But hang on I thought my caravan already has the vin number stamped on the chassis and etched on all the windows.......so it would not really help to identify my caravan.
You could decide the kit was useful for really old caravans without etched windows or if you thought a thief might change all the windows and file the number from the chassis.

Good idea or not?

 

[Dustydog]

My dogs have been chipped But no insurance discount :silly:
Hitch locks , wheel clamps, alarms , trackers just another thing for an insurer to demand
perhaps :huh:
Eight years ago a couple we knew through our dealer had their caravan stolen.
Sadly it was recovered. Trashed , soiled and badly damaged. Not bad enough to write off but bad enough the wife didn't want it back.
They did a px but had to find another 2k.
Progress? Yes. But not a retro fit please.

 

[Jaydug]

It's a bit more 'techie' than the Identification numbers on the windows but it's not going to stop your van getting pinched. After all, the thieves don't expect to get caught. And I wouldn't think they would go to the trouble of changing all the windows.

 

[Keefanmaxx]

I had a good chat with the nice people from Vin chip at the NEC to find out what benefits it brings and I have to say I was quite impressed with it as it isn't just the window stickers (which are tamper proof), there is a radio frequency chip plus the chassis number with a QR code to be fitted in the gas locker. The QR code will read, even if it is damaged and we can put the RF chip where we want. The whole thing is designed to assist the Police to identify the owners quicker as there is more than an etched window to get round.
The one thing that really sold this to me was the ;'micro dots' - a UV liquid containing small dots that have the chassis number etched on them, readable under a microscope that can be put anywhere in the van - on or under surfaces, in cupboards or drawers etc.

My 'van is 6 years old but was a significant investment for Mrs Keith and I. While I appreciate that if an individual has the will to take it, they will and I want to make it as difficult as possible for it to be disposed of and hopefully increase the chance of recovery.

Based on the chat I had at the NEC, I have ordered the package that has all the identification marks, the micro-dots and a UV pen to mark our property. It's cost me £50, and my insurers won't offer any further discount, but I consider that a small cost if it deters a potential theft or increases the chance of recovery.
I suppose it's a personal preference, but Vin Chip will be on all 2016 vans.

 

[Parksy]

We bought our caravan new in October 2007 and it has micro dots so the technology involving them is not new.
Anything that might deter caravan theft has to be a step in the right direction, but the nub of the matter is the police response when caravans are stolen.
It's often stated on caravan forums that if a thief wants your caravan they will steal it, and until the police and the courts respond in a much more robust way this will never change.
A tourer can be equipped with the best tracking and identification system available but if police are reluctant to pursue caravan thieves or to recover stolen caravans no device will resolve the issue of caravan theft.

 

[Beehpee]

I don't know if this company who are marketing this for caravans is connected to them but it sounds to me to be identical to Datatag which is often fitted to plant machinery, diggers etc and farm machinery, Datatag has been around for quite a while and it definitely helps with identification when stolen plant is recovered but seems to have limited effect on what's stolen, I suppose it's a bit like if you have an alarm on your house, if you have one but your next door neighbour hasn't then the tea leaf is more likely to rob next door than you, I've fitted Datatag to quite a few farm machinery items from a little tractor right up to enormous combine harvesters some as big as my house, usually it's more to keep the insurance company happy than the farmers actually wanting it.

BP

 

[ProfJohnL]

From what I can see and understand of this technology, I'm not convinced it is going to make the detection or recovery of stolen caravans significantly better.

There is already plenty of marking of windows and the chassis numbers, which don't need a special wand, and again if the thief is really determined they will remove/ change them to hide the true identity.

For starters the chips are going to placed at random locations around the caravan, Now if it's like a pet chip, then to be able to read it the reader has to be quite close to it, It doesn't take long to cover a cat or dog, but caravans are big and if they're placed randomly, how will the officer with his wand know where to look?.

The serious criminal fraternity will soon establish if there are favoured places for them to be fitted and will find some way of either removing or disabling, reprogramming or replacing them.

In their favour, its one more thing for the thieves to try and overcome, so they may look for an easier option. and if they are passive and undamaged, there will be no battery drain, and they will always be detectable

Will they prevent thefts NO but they may deter them.
Will it alert the owner to fact the caravan has been stolen NO.
Will they make detection of a stolen caravan on the move any better NO. Will PC plod be walking around caravan sites with his wand checking all the caravans NO.

They will only really assist if the tea leaf have removed all other the visible signs of the VIN, but has not managed to defeat the chips. By that time would you want it back anyway?

 

[Raywood]

This is merely an aid to recovering a stolen caravan that the police have decided is suspicious. It is only when they have reason to believe it is stolen they will look for the items fitted so it is a bit of a punt.
I would not rely on the window etching it can be removed and the plate by the door can also and although removing the identity can make the police suspicious, unless they can identify it then there is not a lot they can do.
The real answer would be to stamp the number into the chassis to a depth that would make removal impossible in my view.

 

[Gafferbill]

The real answer would be to stamp the number into the chassis to a depth that would make removal impossible in my view.

.........that is already done by Al-ko on the A frame near the hitch and is usually covered by bodywork.This stamping could still be ground out.

 

[JonnyG]

A decent tracker fitted is all you need a quick response by yourself to track your stolen car caravan bike ect...and a phone call to the local constabulary where you've tracked your vehicle to. although admittedly the phone call to the police can get heated but know your rights know what to say they will have no choice but to come out....if most people took this approach ,criminals regardless of them being caught, would start to think twice.. at present as stated police unfortunately are stretched and work more to catch gangs than recover stolen vehicles in the first place....

 

[Raywood]

The real answer would be to stamp the number into the chassis to a depth that would make removal impossible in my view.

.........that is already done by Al-ko on the A frame near the hitch and is usually covered by bodywork.This stamping could still be ground out.

To me it needs to be deeper so it cannot be ground out, but does anyone know the number anyway. It should be in a position where it easily visible.

 

[Gafferbill]

......it is etched on all the windows of all UK caravans at manufacture has been for over twenty years.

 

[Keefanmaxx]

There are some good points raised such as the fact Vin Chip will not warn the owner that the van has been moved, cannot identify its position etc, but surely anything that is an addition or has to be overcome is more problematic?
I 've looked at trackers, but dare say that there are a limited number of locations that they can be hidden if retro fitted and the professional thieves will know where they are in newer vans?
It was explained to me that Vin Chip may not stop a van being taken, it is there to assist identification of the owners quicker. The RF tag can be read up to 5 metres away (apparently), and the van needs to be inspected with a UV light to identify the microdot locations.

 

[Raywood]

......it is etched on all the windows of all UK caravans at manufacture has been for over twenty years.

I may be wrong but is not the chassis number the ALKO factory number on the chassis and not the caravan manufacturers which would be different.
The numbers on the windows can be removed although it would probably do them no good.

 

[WoodlandsCamper]

I understand that the first part of the VIN is the end manufacturer's ID and year, whilst the latter part is the actual chassis number which the chassis manufacturer generates.

 

[Gafferbill]

Explanation of Cris VIN code can be found here.