Van Life Safety

It was certainly one of our main concerns when we planned van life and it's something you have to be aware of all the time. Whilst the majority of places are safe, there will always be risks and you have to learn to manage those risks and cope with the worry.

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The majority of problems such as break-ins occur by opportunists and there are several simple precautions you can take;

• Always lock your van doors even when in the van and keep all windows secure

• Choose your park up carefully. Trust your gut. If it doesn't feel 100% safe then move on

• Avoid parking in cities and where possible park on regulated sites

• Safety in numbers. It's always safer where there are other van lifers

• Hide all valuables. Never leave anything on show when you leave the van unattended

• On street parking, park under street lamps or in well lit areas

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Internal safety

We fitted a CCTV camera in the van that is active when the van is left unattended. Any motion sends an alert to my mobile phone. It may not give you time to return to the van but it may help

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We fitted a reasonable sized safe in the van, in a hidden location. It may not completely stop a theft but it will make it difficult and buy some time. We keep all valuables in the safe. It would take some force to remove it as it is glued and bolted to the van. It's also fire-proof

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All important documents that we carry with us are stored in the safe and we have digital scans on our mobile phones

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Vital tips

Never let any stranger enter your van and sadly, treat all strangers with suspicion. Be cautious about any information you give out regrding your plans and destinations

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Try not to arrive at your park up in the dark. It is far better to be aware of your surroundings. It's also a great idea to plan an exit route. Park in a way that you can get away quickly if in trouble.

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All this said, van life is safer than you might think and whilst being aware, you should not let the worry drag you down and spoil it.

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