Marking your Caravan

If your caravan is stolen the chances of getting it back can be dramatically improved by taking action now.

Photographs
Take photographs of your caravan, particularly any distinctive features. This can help identification should your caravan be stolen and subsequently recovered.

Roof Marking
Many police forces recommend that you mark your postcode on the roof of your caravan which can be seen by police aircraft and helicopters. Commercial kits are available, or you can paint your own.

Tracking
If you have a desirable caravan, it may be worth investing in a tracking system. These use global positioning satellite technology to pinpoint your caravan to a few metres in the event that it is stolen.

They are not cheap to buy and there is usually a monthly line rental, but this can be outweighed by possible insurance discounts.

Etching
Etch your caravan chassis number or postcode on all windows and in several hidden places inside the van. You can use an ultra violet pen for this but a simple spirit based felt tipped pen inside a cupboard or under beds is almost impossible to remove.

Microchip
A number of companies can embed a small microchip into your caravan structure, which can be found by a scanner. As of mid-2004, over 60,000 caravans have been tagged, making it harder for thieves to dispose of stolen ''vans and increasing the likelihood of stolen caravans being returned to their rightful owners.

All caravans built since 1997 have a Radio Frequency Tagging chip (RFID) fitted at manufacture. This technology has improved on shortfalls in CRIS technology (see below), as RFID chips are easier for the authorities to locate.

Records
Keep a note of your caravan chassis number and other important information. Keep these records safe and away from the caravan.

CRIS
CRIS stands for Caravan Registration and Identification Scheme. Since 1992 almost all new caravans carry a 17-digit number that is stamped onto the A-frame and etched into at least three windows.

If you are buying a CRIS registered caravan you can phone CRIS who will be able to confirm if it listed as stolen, scrapped or listed as having outstanding finance.