THE ULTIMATE SECURITY GUIDE

Caravan thefts have been on the rise again, but you can minimise your risk with a few simple steps. John Sootheran shows you how

ALTHOUGH THE CHANCES your caravan will be stolen or broken into are small, the number of these unwelcome incidents has been growing; so there’s never been a better time to audit your security provisions, and check they are as good as they can be.

Caravan thieves are unbelievably brazen – if you’re thinking, “My van’s parked six feet from my house – nobody will touch it”, you really need to think again.

Any security is better than none, but an experienced thief can remove a budget lock in seconds, so it pays to buy wisely. Follow our guide to the top 10 security measures for your caravan, and you’ll be making life as difficult as possible for them.

1 Wheel locks

 Fullstop Nemesis Ultra wheel lock 

 How many times have you heard the old adage, “You get what you pay for”? Well, it’s generally true, and never more so than when buying caravan security.

Wheel locks come in all shapes and sizes, but the one the insurance companies seem to favour is the Al-Ko Secure wheel lock.

This device is smaller and lighter than most other wheel locks, so it’s easier to transport. The receiver is also fixed to the caravan’s chassis, making it a more secure option.

When fitted, the lock receiver is visible behind the wheel and the device slides between the wheel ‘spokes’ before the bolt is screwed into the receiver.

Start by aligning the wheel so that the receiver is visible and centred between two spokes. Take out the yellow plug, which caps off the receiver when it’s not in use.

The lock has several parts. Position the main red lozenge between the spokes so the hole in it aligns with the receiver. Now push the threaded bar through and use the extension bar to screw it into the receiver, first finger-tight, then using a wrench to tighten it further. Finally, remove the extension bar, and push the locking barrel into the hole and lock it in place.

Some caravans are sold with the entire locking mechanism supplied, but many just come with the receiver, and you have to buy the locking mechanism yourself.

Al-Ko locks can be retrofitted, depending on your caravan’s backplate. Check out the ‘Will it fit?’ section on www.al-ko-secure.co. uk to see if your caravan is compatible. The red Al-Ko inserts are designed to fit specific spoke patterns (shown by the number on the faceplate), so you’ll need to know which fitment you have before you buy.

Finally, ensure you register your wheel lock with Al-Ko; otherwise, if you lose your keys, it could cost you a small fortune to call out a technician to remove the lock.

Other options

A wide range of wheel locks is available, from brands such as Milenco, Bulldog, Maypole and Fullstop. These don’t require a prefitted receiver, are often cheaper, and if you have a twin-axle, are much easier to fit – aligning two wheels to the perfect spoke position can be quite tricky with an Al-Ko Secure lock.