How to leave your caravan secure for the winter

Follow our top tips as your first defence in securing your holiday home.

Packing up and heading home from our east coast might not be what you want to think about while the sun is still shining, but we want to get ahead of the game.

We know caravans can be a target for burglars so we want to make sure you are armed with the knowledge of how to reduce your risk when leaving your caravan empty at the end of the season.

Chief Inspecter for East Lindsey, Lee St Quinton, said, “Our Summertime Policing Plan saw increased patrols and working together with East Lindsey District Council and Caravan Park Watch to engage on crime prevention. However, we know that it’s not just the summer months that carry an increased risk, it’s also at the end of the season when caravans are left empty. We want to raise awareness ahead of this and provide owners with recommendations to help keep their caravan secure. We know that caravans can be an owner’s pride and joy and a home from home, so the impact of a burglary can be devastating.”

Councillor Graham Marsh, Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Community Safety at East Lindsey District Council, said, “Through partnership working, the summer policing campaign has helped to ensure those who come to enjoy our beautiful coastline and market towns have the best possible experience, including protecting their property.

“It is important the successes continue for the rest of the season and I encourage caravan owners to take on the crime reduction advice to protect their properties before the end of the season.”

Operation Songlark has continued through the summer season with the aim of reducing caravan burglaries on the east coast. With the emphasis on reducing crime and reducing the fear of crime in the area, the local Neighbourhood Policing Team supported by both specialist investigation and proactive teams, continue the aims of tracing offenders swiftly, recovering stolen property and bringing offenders to justice. High-visibility engagements and patrols across caravan parks have been key to keeping people safe. This has had a positive impact with burglary reports on the coast 28% down in July 2023 when compared with the previous period last year.

Chief Insp St Quinton added, “We want to make sure that the good work and successes achieved so far continue. The advice is being circulated now, well ahead of October, which in 2022 saw a spike in reports of caravan burglaries.”

End of season crime reduction recommendations 

• Remove all valuables from your caravan, especially flat screen TVs, games consoles and DVD players. It’s tempting to leave them under the bed, or in a cupboard. Don’t. Thieves will find them.
• Leave all the curtains open, remove net curtains and leave cupboards empty with doors open. Make it clear to would-be thieves there is nothing worth stealing.
• Make sure that all your contact details are up to date at the site office / storage office.
• Place a “valuables removed” sign on your windows.
• Make sure all windows are locked and if possible, cable tie the handles.
• Leave a blank sheet of paper inside the doorway when you finally lock up. A footprint can help trace an offender.  
• Remove gas bottles as they can be a target for thieves.
• Consider if your lock needs upgrading to a professionally fitted anti-snap lock. You can find a local locksmith on the Master Locksmiths Association website.    

For further information 

In June, we launched our Beating Burglary Together campaign which set out our commitment to raise awareness of where incidents are happening and to provide crime prevention and security advice. The issue of burglaries of caravans is a specific target for this campaign.

If you are a Caravan Site Owner or work within the caravan sector and would like to join the Caravan Park Watch scheme, please contact the Caravan Site Licensing Team for more information via email at [email protected] or by telephone on 01507 613551.