There’s been lots of good news for the caravan and park home holiday industry recently. The international situation is encouraging holiday makers to look at UK holidays, retirees have more money to spend and younger people want to get out and about at great value prices. Another sector of the economy is watching these booming figures and rubbing their hands – the criminal sector.
Police have reported a corresponding boost in light-fingered activity, with a 20% rise in caravan theft during 2015 according to the Telegraph. While those figures focus on touring caravans, in 2012, Leisure Days insurance reported a 30% rise in claims for thefts from static caravans and holiday lodges, and it’s a timely reminder as we plan our summer breaks 2016 that security should always be high on our holiday checklist.
Here are a few simple precautions you can and should take when you check out or check in to your holiday home:
- Park security
Don’t be shy about asking about the security measures in place at the park you’re using. Do staff patrol the parks? How secure is the perimeter? Is the reception desk always manned? Do they have alarms? Big operators with a good reputation – like Hoseasons, Haven Holidays, or Park Resorts for example – should take security seriously and shouldn’t mind being quizzed on their arrangements by guests. - Your caravan
Have a quick check around your caravan when you arrive. Check that all the locks work and that the windows close properly. If they don’t, ask to be moved or for repairs to be made. Of course, any lock is useless if you don’t use it – whenever you leave your caravan make sure everything is securely shut and locked! - Your valuables in your van
With all the security measures in the world it’s not possible to make a static caravan 100% thief proof. So don’t make yourself a target. Most thieves are opportunists who take the easiest pickings. Leaving valuables – especially when even kids travel with several hundred pounds-worth of electronic goods these days – on show in your van is inviting trouble. Remove anything valuable from your van when you’re away from it if you can. If you can’t carry everything with you make sure it’s out of site. Leave your curtains drawn back so that anyone passing can see that your van is free of valuable items. - Extra precautions
- You can buy small, portable safes and other secure storage devices very cheaply. Many insurers now include property marking kits with their policies, if not then they are very good value too. Such marking systems only have the desired deterrent effect if potential thieves know they are being used, so use warning signs where you can.
- Your valuables on site
Ask if there is a safe or safe storage locker you can use in the park reception for any valuables that need particularly good security, though you should question whether you need to bring such things with you first. - Insurance
If the worst does happen you need to be able to minimise the trauma and replace what you can. In the terms and conditions of most holiday parks you will find a sentence beginning: “We accept no responsibility…” Some home insurance will cover your goods while you travel, it’s certainly worthy checking. Otherwise do take out holiday insurance. Beware of buying insurance as part of a package as it’s often more expensive that way. There are a number of specialist caravan and park home insurance companies in the UK and they are worth considering. - Don’t panic!
Crime is an unpleasant reality. However, the vast majority of us will never be the victim of crime whatever the newspapers might like you to believe. It’s in the interests of holiday operators to minimise the chances of their customers experiencing anything unpleasant while on their sites and most take this responsibility seriously. So, as you plan to head to Cornwall, Cumbria, Lancashire, Lincolnshire, Sussex or Scotland you can do so in the knowledge that taking a few simple precautions is all you need to do to keep your possessions safe.
