Motorhome Security

Pollik

Guest
We don't seem to have had this recently and as I am about to take delivery of one of these used-euramobil-integra-810-ebl-motorhome-u2276_004.jpg in the next three weeks and seeing as there is a nice man putting a reference database together...

The only security issue I have had was in Rome when someone jemmied the door and stole my trainers (10years old) and the satnav, although the habitation door has been jemmied in a previous ownership. My brother had his van broken into on a campsite in Milan. Both in Italy...interesting.

So, I am looking for cheap deterrents against the opportunist thief. Thought about cheap window alarms, somthing to beef up the doors (A class van) and maybe cheap motion sensors....and something very visible...a cheap webcam appeals.

Has anyone got the perfect cheap product? Cheap being the operative word, here.
 
Sparks said:
Find somebody who has a dog and beg one of their old chewed up footballs. Leave that outside the van together with a water bowl. A few 'Beware Of The Dog' stickers in the windows also helps.
No good for street parking but works most other places.
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hey, i actually do that!! leave a dogs bowl outside here in the uk, hehehehe also we actually have a sketchy sheep dog who thinks the van and all around it is hers and wobetide anyone getting too close, ha. esp when we wild park as apparently diesel can be a target too, weve wild camped all summer here in uk with absolutely no problems whatsoever. live in peace and just be sensible and,,, get a dog, theyre good company too..:lol-053:
 
Our van is also alarmed.
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How do you choose between the £10 systems and those that cost £1000?

A dog sounds like a good idea...except when the van is left unattended somewhere, say a campsite (which is what happened with my brother).
 
Your habitation door is the weakest spot in your case, I think Fiamma make the ugly lockable coverplate that many coachbuilts have these days.
Then you can pick from a whole lot of devices examples such as;

Deadlocks... could prevent doors being jemmied open.

Plastic security film on inside face of door glass....prevents glass from being broken thru'.

Recording on a loop of large barking dog volume is adjustable!.....I know a couple of Germans using such a device.

Even leaving radio on fairly loud may work when van is unattended... cheap!

Ultrasonic/IR detectors.... trouble is does a tealeaf care whether an alarm goes off or not, if no one else can hear it, or if they can are they likely to do anything about it.

Chain looped thru' front door handles holding doors together... cheap.

Door Contact alarms.....cheap, just an alarm with same same problem as the detectors.

If you have an invertor, wire the 240v side to the van metalwork and chuck a couple of buckets of water outside your doors as you vacate.....perhaps not!
 
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You can get a flashing LED available from EBAY, Maplins etc that is wired across the 12volt supply. Drawers next to no current so can be left on for long periods of time.

A couple of these, say one by the habitation door and the other on the dash board looks like it's alarmed.

Helps to find your way back at night

We've got one of the Large "D" type lock fixings over the habitation door to reduce access.

If you have LED lighting, you can leave a couple on to look inhabited without drawing loads of power, radio as well.

We've got window alarms (cheap ones) that squark if the window is open, but they're only fixed with double sided tape so can be ripped off, but they even have a switch so can be turned off. Only useful if you're in the van.
 
Most alarm systems will already have motion sensors which are notorious for false alarms. I have often driven my lorry past parked and setting them all off.

I have fitted microswitches inside the doors so it sets the alarm off only when the door handle is pulled, irrespective of whether or not the door is opened. That way the alarm goes off BEFORE the thief has smashed his way in, and no false alarms.
 

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Sparks said:
Find somebody who has a dog and beg one of their old chewed up footballs. Leave that outside the van together with a water bowl. A few 'Beware Of The Dog' stickers in the windows also helps.
No good for street parking but works most other places.
Click to expand...

We don't put the "Beware of the Dog" signs up but we do always take a pressure washer with us to remove the claret and bits of the unwanted guests. :)
 
Security is essential in some parts of mainland Europe and for me it's all about deterring thieves. If they see a 'van that appears to be well defended they'll simply move on to one that isn't. I use Fiamma Doorsafe locks on the habitation door and both garage doors. You can buy a pack of three with the same key for all. On the windows I use Milenco alarms, which are a visible deterrent and very easy to fit, as were the Fiamma Doorsafe locks and believe me, if I can fit them, anyone can!

I have stickers on the cab windows warning that an alarm is fitted (a couple of pounds from eBay). Fortunately, my cab has deadlocks, which must help. The Milenco alarms are very inexpensive, about £20 for a pack of six. When activated they have a flashing LED to deter thieves and if the window is forced they emit a very loud noise!

If we're overnighting anywhere where there may be a chance of thieves, I use the Fiamma Doorsafe lock on the habitation door and enter the 'van through the cab. There is then very little chance of anyone breaking in through the door and if they force the windows the ear-splitting siren from the Milenco alarms would wake the dead!
 

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Motorcaravans are the easiest thing in the world to break into, mostly opportunistic for the goodies we carry inside, if the scumbag is intent on breaking in he generally will do....my personal thoughts are, if your not buying expensive locks etc then deterrents are next best thing, when they pass and look at your van hopefully they think too much trouble and hassle getting past those and move onto the next with no locks or deterrents.

but thats just my thoughts, failing that capital punishment......:banana:
 
A dog isn't exactly cheap... I think I saw on the forum, the cost of raising one to age 11 is £12,000 or something. Not to mention the time... I guess it is more of a lifestyle thing.

I like the dog bowl though!
 
I used to carry a pair of tatty size 13 builder's boots from a jumble sale and leave those tucked beneath my van (and previously outside a tent) complete with a squashed beer can. It wouldn't increase security but might be a deterrent....
 
I guess this must be more of an issue for coach built homes, as those of us with converted panel vans have much stronger doors which we can use the dead locks on.

I always try to park where I can make a quick escape if needed, but this is probably due to being a solo camper I always feel a little nervous when wild camping
 
That's a smart looking bus, Polly. Looks expensive, too. Wouldn't it be worth spending a bit more on a security device for such a tidy bit of kit?

Having said that, all I've got on mine is an immobiliser. It's parked up relatively safely when I'm not using it, but it would be so easy to break into. I think I should be looking, too. :(
 
I find this sign works..............JEHOVAHS WITNESS
Mobile Centre
All Welcome

When the van is unattended the doors can even be left open.
Cheap just needs translated version when going foreign.
 
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