These 12 VANLIFE SECURITY TIPS Could Save YOU From Thieves

Don't make the same mistakes as us!! Improve your van security, with these 12 tips you can prepare yourself for anything. After numerous attempted break ins in London, we did have some security measures in our van, but after the robbery in Spain we realised it was time to seriously beef up our security!! In todays video we share all our upgrades and some pro tips for vanlifers, so we urge you to learn from our misfortune and take necessary steps to protect yourself better than we did. Unfortunately vehicle crime is on the rise so security is more important than ever! We lived through every vanlifers worst nightmare, and hopefully if you take the advice in this video you never will!!

⤈SUPPORT US⤈

⤈ SECURITY PURCHASES⤈
Below are some recommendations to buy, they are affiliate links so to give a little less money to Amazon and a little amount to us you can buy them here.

📍 Safe's

📍 Driving Locks

📍 CCTV Camera's

📍 AntiSmash Film

📍 Tracker's

📍 Stickers

⤈ VIDEO CHAPTERS ⤈

00:00 - 00:41 - Learn From Our Mistakes
00:41 - 01:31 - Tip #1 Blinds & Curtains
01:31 - 02:06 - Tip #2 Driving Locks
02:06 - 02:38 - Tip #3 Tracker Device
02:38 - 03:39 - Tip #4 External Locks
03:39 - 06:00 - Tip #5 Chains
06:00 - 06:52 - Tip #6 CCTV
06:52 - 07:20 - COFFEE BREAK
07:20 – 10:13 – Tip #7 Safe
10:13 – 14:41 – Tip #8 AntiSmash
14:41– 15:19 – Tip #9 Alarm
15:19 – 16:40– Tip #10 Stickers
16:40 – 18:35 – Tip #11 Parking
18:35 – 20:54 – Most Important Tip #12 Insurance
20:54 - 21:33 - Final Thoughts

⤈ WHO WE ARE ⤈
We are Philly and Keely and we live full time in our tiny home on wheels Martha. After building our DIY home in a Citroen Relay camper we spent a year living on the streets of London before quitting our jobs only to be met with lockdown. So after waiting for six months for the borders to reopen in Ireland we have finally hit the road in June 2021 and spent 90 days enjoying vanlife in Spain. Then we spent the next two months enjoying vanlife in Croatia before heading onto Serbia which stole our hearts. Then we journeyed from there into Turkey where we are met lots of fellow vanlifers. Back home to Ireland and the UK for time with family and MOT, and now back into the mainland!

SUBSCRIBE if you are interested in our travels, van build, daily van life content and maybe some vegan cooking too.

You can follow our INSTAGRAM @chapterby_chapter

⤈ CATCH UP ⤈
Turkey Roadtrip -

⤈ VLOGGING GEAR ⤈
Below is the gear we use for vlogging as a few people have asked what we use. Be aware we are amazon affiliates, so if you buy through these links we will get a small amount at no extra cost to yourselves. Ask us any questions about this stuff, so far we genuinely recommend all of it. Obviously the drone is my fave camera of all!

Sony a7C Our beautiful new camera

Rode Micropro+

DJI Osmo Pocket

Sony RX100 Vii Camera

Go Pro Hero 9

DJI Mini 2

Relano LED Light

⤈ VANLIFE ESSENTIALS ⤈
Coffee Pot

Kettle

Fridge

Metal Wine Glass & Lid

⤈OUR STICKER SHOP ⤈

⤈SUPPORT US⤈

#vanlife #security #securitytips #securityupgrades #vanlifeuk #vanlifeeurope #security #campervansecurity #vanlifesecurity #diyvanbuild #campervan #travelvlog #vanbuild #vantour #vancouple

[phillyandkeely]

Hope you enjoyed the video! P.S. Tip Number 12 is the most important one, so hopefully you can all implement it to protect yourselves better than us.. Thanks so much for watching & share it with others who you think need to improve their security 💓💪🔐

[RogerHammond]

For alarm idea, I installed one called "the screecher", the description mentioned something along the lines of a demented canary. It's triggered by door opening and starts off with a nice subtle reminder to turn the alarm off but if you don't it switches into evil mode and it literally rattles your brain and the only thought is to get the hell out.

[RVingwithLuck]

Lots of exterior cameras are what work for me. If anyone gets close, I get an alert on my phone. I can then yell or, hit an alarm or at least video what’s up.
For night, I have inexpensive motion lights all around my TV. Whether an animal or criminal, get within 10 feet of my home and bright lights will go off.
Always close and block windows while gone.
Sometimes I leave on the radio to the internal or/and external speakers at a low volume so people think I may be home.
But my #1 is motion activated video cameras. All around.

[bleakyfinder]

A hidden vehicle isolation switch, so the engine cannot be started. Passenger seatbelt thread threw door handle? attach to fixing, prevent door being opened.

[houstonval]

Not gonna lie, as a previous tinter...i got a kick out of yall trying it yourselves to save...and thank you for being honest on how many tries it takes without experience. Theres a reason why its 300 for 2 windows😉

[jdsouza]

If you have a safe, and you'll be parking for a while, you can remove the fuel pump relay and store it in the safe until you're ready to drive away. This way there is no way the thieves can start your vehicle unless they happen to be carrying the same model relay with them, AND are able to diagnose why the engine won't start.

[jfwfreo]

I would pick a wheel boot (the sort of thing the parking cops use when they boot/clamp your car until you pay up) over either a steering wheel lock or a pedal lock. Much more of a visual deterrent (and will make a potential bad guy re-consider even approaching the van if their plan is to steal the whole van) plus it means the van can't be physically moved even with a tow truck or something.

[jamesm]

My deadlocks all round saved my van from being stolen/broken into this weekend. I have crow bar marks on my drivers door frame where someone has tried to bend the window back to get to the handle inside the door. Without deadlock they would have gotten in. Also handy tip for anti smash film, buy a cheap window tint kit that is templated for your glass, then use that as a template for the film.

[krystleklearcentral]

A good thing about living in a van, you can have a lot of non-weapon weapons inside. EG: A big butcher knife, Foam fire extinguisher, Golf clubs, etc, and all would be reasonable to carry in your van at all times.
Most people wouldn't consider a fire extinguisher a weapon, but it actually a very effective one, you can be several metres away from the person, and if you spray in their face, they will retreat! Make sure it is foam or CO2 though! It will be a bit of a mess afterwards, but totally worth the clean up!

[shellygraham]

My husband is a professional window tinter. Watching him is like watching a master at work. He has learned how to do the details that really make a difference. A professional is worth hiring!!

[Bigcat]

The tips you gave were great. But one good one another van lifer had which is great is motion cameras around your van. There great for security if you’re away or inside. Stay safe

[MrFloris]

Adding security to prevent people from getting in also means you’re preventing yourself from getting out .. be aware that you need a way out in case of a fire, and because you live in the van there is a risk of fire or whatever. So get into a habit of knowing which doors you’re locking while you’re in the van or which ones are unlocked so if something happens you’re not wasting time struggling to unlock something because you surprise yourself it’s locked still.

[van_tastic_van]

I installed these on the rear doors. (Twowinds Anti-Theft Locking, Security Lock with Plug H1 H2 Roof Rear Gate Ducato Jumper Boxer X250 X290). They fit between the bolts in the existing holes, so they can be installed in 10 minutes without drilling holes. The pen can be removed in one smooth motion with one hand in an emergency, which I think is very important when you are sleeping in it. I further secure our cabin doors by guiding the seat belts through the handles and clicking them into place. The sliding door is barricaded at night by a custom-sawn slat between the 'U' shaped bumper and the kitchen unit. This can also be removed from the side of the 'U' block with a simple movement in an emergency. I also have a hidden tracker, I always lock the steering wheel with the wheels turned to the curb and I place a clear red steering bar when leaving the van.

[deeferry]

Watched a programme a couple of years ago about car thieves. Some bloke put a sticker on his window saying nothing of value was kept in the car. The Thief left him a note after breaking in, it read "just thought I'd check anyway".

[asaandthemarchharepart]

Very useful vlog both. I've got a transit so probably the easiest van that gets broken into. So fitted a few extras to hopefully put people off cuz to much hassle stealing, going to do the door chains next. Another good idea to stop someone actually taking the van is to remove one of the main fuses. Hope you're both having a wonderful time in France and loving the adventure. Love and Hugs Both ❤

[joannawood]

We also have cameras on the outside of the van. If someone can see that alongside the CCTV sticker, maybe they would be less likely to break in as they can clearly see you do have cameras

[Ydeler]

There was a few things that I never thought of in your list, like the anti-smash glass. Loved the video!

[MrFloris]

I recently got few packs of AirTags for my jackets, bags, etc. Just as an extra chance to get things pinged. 😊

[marionwallsten]

I bought a wheel lock for my car.
It can be removed by firce but it will take a day.
Less than $100 on Ebay. 😊

[nospecificplan]

Hi guys, we are early stages of our van build, felt so much pain for you when we watched your break in video. Thanks for your tips, taking some away for our van for sure! Stay safe...