PROTECT YOUR MOTORHOME

We all love our motorhomes, but sadly, there are criminal types out there who love stealing them just as much. So what steps can you take to prevent the worst from happening to you? Our tech expert Peter Rosenthal explores your options

Motorhomes are incredibly popular at the moment and the combination of Covid, Brexit, silicone chip shortages, wars and economic uncertainty have seen their popularity (and prices) soar.

Rather than risk going abroad, many people have chosen to holiday in the UK, with this staycation enthusiasm further stoking demand.

This is great news for sellers, but not so good for buyers the cost of leisure vehicle ownership has also risen. More worryingly, whenever there is a spike in demand for any particular vehicle group, there is a corresponding spike in theft. Criminals clearly keep a close eye on market trends, too.

So what can you do to avoid becoming yet another crime statistic? Happily, there are lots of simple, free, practical steps that you can take to protect your much-loved vehicle, as well as plenty of clever gadgets and tech solutions to keep your motorhome safe and give you some peace of mind.

THEFT FROM VEHICLES

The most common form of theft actually involves items left in the vehicle. While the advice for a car would be 'lock all of the doors and don't keep valuables on show', the problem for motorhomes is that most thieves know all too well the sort of things you are likely to have stashed on board.

High-value items, such as phones, tablets, TVs, power banks and electric bikes are easy to carry (or ride) away and quick to resell. You wouldn't be keeping these things in your vehicle at home, but there is more of a risk when you're away on tour, especially if you ever wild camp.

Most thefts from vehicles are carried out by opportunists, so it's important to make your 'van as unappealing a prospect as possible. Don't keep items on show and do put up the blinds when you're not around, to discourage those prying eyes from scoping your stuff.