In 2022, a whopping 58,082 vehicles were stolen in the UK. Per day, that’s an average of 159 vehicles, or 1,117 a week [1]. I personally know two people who have had their van broken into while they were sleeping inside. One of them even had it happen twice. Therefore, camper van security is a must. In this guide, we will look at a variety of van security systems, including van security cameras, van lock boxes, as well as the best van locks and van security alarms.
Shane, the founder of The Van Conversion, is a campervan professional dedicated to helping people transform ordinary vans into homes on wheels. He authored Roaming Home and teaches The Van Conversion Course, guiding many people through their van builds. Shane also writes The Van Conversion Newsletter, where he shares practical tips and insights. After completing two van builds and living on the road full-time since 2020, he is passionate about sharing his expertise with others.
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Index
Camper Van Security Basics
Hotwiring
This first point of discussion here is hotwiring. Hotwiring is the process of bypassing a motor vehicle's ignition switch and thus starting it without the key. Since 1988, all new vehicles must have an engine immobiliser fitted. An engine immobiliser stops the vehicle from being hotwired. The immobiliser activates when the key is removed from the ignition and prevents the vehicle from being hotwired.
Whilst losing your entire van to hotwiring is no longer a concern, theft of items from your van is.
Don’t Leave Valuables in Sight
As with any vehicle, don't leave obvious valuables visible in the cab when you are out. This includes your wallet, phone, cash, laptop, among other items
Park in Well-lit Areas
Light reduces crime. This is a big reason many cities are so well-lit. It was found that street lighting led to a 14% decrease in crime [2]. When possible, park in well-lit areas.
Cities Have More Crime
You are far more likely to have a break-in when parking in a city than in the countryside. Get into nature. That's what the van is all about.
Don't Leave Valuables Out at Campsites
Things get nicked from campsites all the time. Just this summer gone by I had two camping chairs and a hangboard stolen while I was away. Pack up everything at a campsite when you're not there.
Keep Camper Van Security Details in Your Phone
Keep insurance details, vehicle registration, and important documents on your phone as a back-up. This will allow you to sort out any issue immediately with minimal faff.
Best Camper Van Lock
Next, let's look at all the different camper van locks out there. There are a plethora, so I have only picked out the most effective. Broadly speaking, there are two types of camper van lock: vehicle locks (prevent the vehicle from being driven away) and door locks (prevent the vehicle from being broken into).
Steering Wheel Lock
The steering wheel lock has been around since hotwiring was a major vehicle security issue. This is one of the most trusty camper van locks out there, preventing thieves from driving your van away even if they manage to bypass your immobiliser. They act as an effective deterrent as they're clearly visible from outside.
Clutch Lock
Clutch locks are van locks designed to stop intruders from using the clutch, and thus getting away with the vehicle. These are also clearly visible from outside, acting as a deterrent to break-ins.
Wheel Clamp
Ever been clamped for parking illegally? This is pretty much the same, except you're doing it voluntarily. A wheel clamp is a nifty camper van lock that's an obvious deterrent and prevents your vehicle from being driven or rolled away.
Deadlock
The deadlock is one of the best door locks you can install. They're completely mechanical, requiring a key to open, and a good one is bomb-proof. There are two types of deadlocks: interior and exterior.
Interior deadlocks are also known as mortise locks. They tend to be installed by professional locksmiths, but you can install them yourself. Here is a video on how to install one.
Exterior deadlocks are much more popular in self build campervans. These are mounted on the outside of the door. I have an exterior deadlock on the back doors of my Ford Transit conversion. It was easy to install and is very secure. Thule and Master are both reputable manufacturers of exterior deadlocks.
Slam Lock
A slam lock is a secondary van lock that locks automatically when you shut the door. A slam lock is usually professionally installed by a locksmith.
Sliding Door Van Lock
The sliding door van lock is one of the easiest van security systems you can install. Simply drill a hole in the side door rail such that you can place a padlock through it. When the padlock is locked it forms a physical barrier; the side door will be unable to open. I use this type of van lock for my sliding door, in conjunction with a deadlock on the back doors.
Back Door Interior Van Lock
The back door interior van lock is another relatively simple van security system. A metal plate is installed at the top of each door such that you can lock the two doors together from the inside. The image below demonstrates it best:
Cab Doors Van Lock
An interesting way to keep the cab doors completely locked is to use the Fiamma cab door security bar. This extendable bar connects your two doors together, preventing either one from opening.
Some people choose to do this the DIY way by simply chaining the doors together. The cab doors van lock can give great peace of mind when you are sleeping in a city overnight.
Best Van Security Alarms
Alarms are useful when you're parking your van in populated spaces. The loud noise they make draws attention and is a deterrent for potential thieves.
Motion Sensor Van Security Alarm
The CPVAN motion sensor is by far the most popular van security alarm. This battery-operated device couldn't be simpler to set up. Just install it somewhere inside your van with a view over the sliding and back doors. If an intruder breaks in, it will sound the alarm. The remote control is particularly handy.
Glass Shatter Van Security Alarm
A vibration alarm sensor or glass shatter van security alarm is really useful if you've got big windows in your van. It detects when someone is trying to smash in one of your windows and sounds the alarm. The sensor sticks to the inside of the van window.
Best Van Security Cameras
A van security camera can be turned on when you leave the van and will stay recording until you return and turn it off. The direct streaming to your phone means that whatever happens, you'll have video footage of the thief. It acts as an excellent deterrent and gives fantastic peace of mind.
Arlo Pro3
One of the very best van security cameras is the Arlo Pro3. This is a small, lightweight, and powerful little camera that should do the job for any campervan. It delivers 2K resolution, audio, and full colour night mode. It has a 6-month battery life and can operate by motion sensing, sending a direct live stream to your phone.
DashCam
Dashcams are very commonly seen on motorbikes and expensive cars, where they work to record the road ahead and behind. The Redtiger is one of the most popular dashcams on the market.
A dashcam is perfect for deterring crash-for-cash incidents, hit and runs, and break-ins, and provides evidence if the worst should happen.
Van Lock Box
A van lock box is a great place to put valuables while you're away. It's essentially a big safe. Some people even weld the van lock box to the floor so they can't be removed.
In my van, I installed a secret storage compartment in the kitchen unit. It's completely hidden from view and gives similar functionality to a lockbox.
Curtains and Window tint
At the start of this article I mentioned the importance of keeping valuables hidden from sight. This means both the cab and the back of the van. One of the best ways to do this is to install curtains in your van. If thieves can't see the inside of your van, they can't tell you have anything worth stealing.
Another great way to stop peeping Toms from looking in your van window is to install a window with tint in it. My van window has 80% tint - it still allows lots of light in, but makes it nearly impossible to look in from the outside.
Van GPS Tracker
A van GPS tracker is one of the most important things you can install in your van. The reality is that if you leave your van parked somewhere out of the way for more than a night or two, determined thieves will be able to steal it despite the best security measures. In this case, the GPS tracker will tell you exactly where your van is, helping you recover it and catch the culprit.
Many van GPS trackers also have extra functionality such as showing you a map of where you have travelled and how far you have travelled. In 2020, I travelled across 18 countries in Europe. I loved being able to look at the log of the trip on the van GPS tracker afterwards. In the Roaming Home 2023 study, we found that 21% of people have a GPS tracker installed in their van.
Broadly speaking, you have two options for a van GPS tracker: one with an internal battery, or one connected to the van batteries. I highly recommend getting the van GPS tracker that connects to the vehicle batteries. It is very simple to install and will save you the headache of having to charge up the device. A GPS tracker is useless if it runs out of battery before you've got your van back.
Vinyl and Stickers
I always love the idea of vinyls and stickers on campervans. I have seen people who have vinyl-wrapped their vans to make them look like a butcher's van, a gardener's van, a gas maintenance van, and many other things that would be uninteresting to thieves.
A more accessible way to deter intruders with sticky plastic is to use stickers advertising your van's security features (real or pretend). Many vanlifers put CCTV stickers, GPS tracking stickers, or 'alarmed and immobilised' stickers on their vans to deter thieves.
Anti-shatter Glass Film
Anti-shatter glass film is very effective for a very small price. It is a thin film of plastic that you stick on the van window. Instead of taking the intruder a single smack to break the window, he could be there for several minutes trying to get through. More than likely, they would give up due to all the commotion they're causing.
Motion Sensor Exterior Light
Earlier in this article, I mentioned that bright lights are a great way to keep crime at bay. For this reason, it is best to park in brightly lit areas. A great way to bring the light to the van is to install a motion detecting exterior light.
You can install a battery power motion sensor light, or an AC motion sensor light. AC lights are more permanent installations and can be programmed, but require a more tricky install. Many vanlifers install battery-powered lights that simply stick to the outside of the van.
Window Bars
The last van security system for today are window bars. I came across these in a video from Nate Murphy. The idea is simple: two bars installed laterally across the window, blocking access even if someone does manage to smash it in. These make for a very effective deterrent, advertising to thieves that their hard work would be for nothing.
Conclusion
The key to security is to keep it simple and visible. Choose two solid solutions from this article, like a mechanical immobiliser (steering wheel lock or wheel clamp) combined with secondary door locks. Advertise their presence with stickers, and finish up with a GPS tracker hidden somewhere in the undercarriage. That way, even if your van does get stolen, you'll know where it is and be able to get it back.
Don't forget to subscribe to The Van Conversion Newsletter for everything you need to get started with your own van conversion. We'll send you a free wiring diagram when you join.
If you're looking for some guidance with your van conversion, you might be interested in our book, Roaming Home, or in our online course, The Van Conversion Mastery Course. You'll learn directly from our founder Shane how to convert a van into your dream home - no prior experience needed.
Until next time.