Keep Caravans Safe This Winter

Police are urging caravan site owners to ensure they leave their caravans safe and secure as they shut down for winter.

Caravan sites can be targeted by burglars out of season as they know the sites will be quiet, with easy access routes and the potential to steal due to insecure caravans and valuables left in clear view.

Ceredigion police officers will be carrying out hi-visibility patrols of caravan sites throughout the winter to help keep the area safe and to offer advice to caravan and site owners.

Officers have posters and flyers available for caravan and site owners to gather more crime prevention advice and to display in their windows to highlight to would-be thieves that no valuables are kept inside.

The call for vigilance has been prompted following 86 caravan crimes being reported in the Dyfed Powys area over the last 12 months.

PC Pat Jalloal, Ceredigion Divisional Community Safety Officer, said: “Burglars are opportunists – when they see an opportunity they take it. It is up to caravan and site owners to make sure they don’t provide burglars with that opportunity by following our crime prevention advice.”

Caravan and site owners have been advised to install locks on all windows and robust caravan locks to prevent break-ins. In addition, desirable items such as flat screen TVs, DVD players and games consoles should be removed while the caravan is not occupied.

PC Pat Jalloal added: “If something is of value to you, it will be of value to someone else so it is really important not to make life easy for burglars. Once owners are satisfied their caravans are secure and valuables have been removed I would encourage them to display our posters or flyers in windows to deter thieves from targeting their property.”

Security advice for caravan and site owners:

• Ensure external equipment, bicycles and children’s toys are not left outside
• Close and lock all access doors
• Fit window and door locks – easily visible locks may deter some thieves
• Remove expensive items from the caravan or at the very least keep them out of sight
• Mark your property with UV Pens (available from site or Neighbourhood Policing Team). There are also a number of innovative liquid forensic coding systems available, which are a great deterrent
• CCTV systems and external site lighting needs to be in good working order
• Secure your shed with a good padlock and install a shed alarm if necessary

For further security advice contact your local neighbourhood policing team: Call 101 x 35330 or email aberystwythNPT@dyfed-powys.pnn.police.uk.