Security - what have we done?

karenandsimoncampe
5 days ago
3 min read

Campervan Security: The Layered Approach We’ve Taken (and Why)

Campervan security is one of those topics nobody wants to think about — until they have to. Sadly, campervan and van theft is on the rise, and opportunistic thieves know exactly where manufacturers cut corners.

Rather than relying on a single solution, we’ve taken a layered, step-by-step approach to security. The idea is simple:

make the van hard, noisy, time-consuming and frustrating to break into. Thieves want quick wins — not puzzles.

Here’s exactly what we’ve done and why.

Step 1: Alarm, Immobiliser and Tracker

The first line of defence is electronic.

Alarm – alerts us (and others) to tampering
Immobiliser – prevents the van from being driven away
Tracker – gives us a chance of recovery if the worst happens

This setup helps deter casual thieves and adds peace of mind, especially when the van is parked overnight or left unattended for longer periods.

But alarms alone don’t stop physical break-ins — which is where mechanical security comes in.

Step 2: Van Door Shields (Front Cab Doors & Sliding Side Door)

This is where we focused most of our attention.

We’ve fitted van door shields to:

Both front cab doors
The sliding side door

Ours are from Van Guard, but there are other good options on the market.

What door shields actually do

Van thieves don’t usually pick locks — they attack the door skin near the lock mechanism. A quick puncture, pry or peel, and they can manually trigger the lock from inside the door.

Door shields:

Cover the exact areas thieves typically attack
Are made from heavy-duty metal, making it extremely difficult to puncture or peel the door skin
Reinforce a factory weak point that vans are notorious for

Internal latch shields

Inside the door is an internal latch shield — and this is key.

Even if a thief manages to puncture the outer door skin:

Their tool hits solid steel
They cannot physically access the locking mechanism
The usual “quick attack” method simply doesn’t work

To get past the shield, a thief would need to:

Make a lot of noise
Spend significant time
Use far more aggressive tools

That’s exactly what they don’t want.

Step 3: Rear Door Internal Locking Plates

For the rear doors, we’ve added internal locking plates.

Fit easily using existing factory screws
No drilling required
Add a solid physical barrier to forced entry

Crucially:

They can be removed quickly from the inside
So if an emergency exit is needed via the rear doors, it’s not compromised

Simple, effective, and very van-friendly.

Step 4: Front Door Securing Straps (When We’re Inside)

When we’re actually in the van, we add another layer.

We use securing straps that:

Hook through the door panel or door handles
Clip directly into the seat belt anchor point

This means:

Even if a lock were compromised
The door physically cannot be opened

We use them on both front cab doors.

Just as importantly:

They’re quick to remove
Simply unclip from the seat belt point for a fast exit if needed

This is about feeling safe at night, without trapping ourselves in.

Step 5: Sliding Door Lock / Chain

The sliding door gets its own internal backup.

Attaches to the passenger seat belt anchor point
Uses a carabiner clip fixed to the sliding door
Prevents the door from being slid open from outside

Again:

Very quick to remove from inside
Ideal for overnight security

It’s another simple, low-cost solution that adds a big psychological and physical barrier.

Step 6: Internal CCTV Camera (Cloud-Based)

Finally, we’ve fitted an internal CCTV camera.

Ours:

Requires a data or WiFi connection
Is cloud-based

Why that matters:

If entry is gained
And even if the camera is found or disabled
Footage and images are already uploaded and secure in the cloud

That protects evidence and gives us visibility of what’s happening inside the van when we’re not there.

Why Layered Security Matters

No security system is 100% theft-proof — but that’s not the goal.

The goal is to:

Slow a thief down
Force them to make noise
Increase the risk of being seen
Make your van a far less attractive target than the one parked next to it

Every layer adds friction. And thieves hate friction.

Final Thoughts

Campervans are valuable, often contain personal belongings, and — most importantly — are our homes. Taking security seriously isn’t about paranoia; it’s about protecting your freedom and peace of mind.

Our setup works because it combines: