Cali Theft Prevention

I’m after a bit of advice. The area I live in is generally low crime, however, there have been some camper-van thefts over the years. As I have a new T6.1 incoming I’d like to know what people thinking are the best security measures to put in place to protect your Cali from theft? Apologies if this has been discussed before. I’ve run a search and couldn’t find what I was looking for. Thanks!

Trackers and immobilisers both electronic and physical are you best bet. Nothing is foolproof so you need to make it as unattractive a proposition as possible so a combination of several measures is probably the best suggestion.

Crumbs…… expect a wide variety of biased and possibly flippant answers to this. Starting with simple measures, many on here have fitted the ’Sparesafe’ anti theft device to the spare wheel (see club shop). Some use internal steering wheel locks. Then you are into fairly expensive trackers etc. The van is well alarmed and immobilised as standard. Try and avoid leaving it down a dark unlit back ally.

For me I work on the basis that I use common sense regarding how and where I leave it, after that, that is what insurance is there for. I’m certainly not going to spend too much time worrying about something that might never happen.

Visible deterrents on mine.
Stoplock Pro on steering wheel, Pedal guard/lock on pedal plus insurance did a free security marking kit with window warning stickers that DNA Marked.

Oooooothemonkey said:

I’m after a bit of advice. The area I live in is generally low crime, however, there have been some camper-van thefts over the years. As I have a new T6.1 incoming I’d like to know what people thinking are the best security measures to put in place to protect your Cali from theft? Apologies if this has been discussed before. I’ve run a search and couldn’t find what I was looking for. Thanks!

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Never bothered. Better off having decent insurance.

We have a ring cam on the drive, apple tag hidden in the van. Have footage of a couple of guys trying to steal the charging cable from our EV, took them 10 seconds to unlock the car using some scanning device. Police caught them 20mins later. They had no interest in the Cali.

Just remember to lock your van when left unattended so that the immobiliser activates, even when at a campsite.

If they really wanted it they would most probably smash your front door in, grab one of your family & demand the keys.

I have had lots of "flippant conversations" about this, mainly because many of these conversations are based on (understandable) fear rather than facts.

But you are essentially managing your own worry rather than real statistical risk. If you determine that is worth you bolting deterrents onto your Cali, or having to press a half dozen buttons every time you start up, that's up to you. They are not really stopping your Cali being stolen, because it's is highly unlikely that will ever happen (see key caveats), but they may help you sleep at night, which for you, may be worth the cost and faff.

The facts are:

- Thefts of new cars are very low. Most "vehicle crime" according to the ONS is theft from (not of) unlocked cars.
- Since Thatcham security was introduced it's very hard for anyone that is not a hardened professional to steal a car. Even for them for new cars it is a planned in advance professional job. We used to hire "white jackers" at Nissan to test them for us.
- A Cali has the highest level of Thatcham rating. Even more so because it is not keyless start.
- It is impossible to steal a Cali without the key. Impossible. The only way to do it would be to lift it into a low loader or try and tow it away.
- Key security is therefore more important than anything else, IMHO.

You can fit Ghosts, Bears, Clamps and many other things - but, they are to put your mind at rest more than to stop theft. IF you secure your key. If you don't want to secure a key, then get a Ghost. If you don't secure your key or want a ghost, get a tracker. Someone made a great point they would not want their Cali back after the scroats had been done with it. I'd tend to agree. It's why I pay insurance.

We store all our keys in a hidden faraday box (even the Cali one). Our estate had three high end cars stolen in one night (3am) about 3 months ago. Highly professional crew, using key signal theft from owners who had their car keys hanging up within range - usually in the kitchen or by the front door. Two Beemers and a Merc. They were in black head to foot, on everyone's ring, and done in < 10 minutes. Highly targeted and likely scouted days ahead. A crew that determined, take more than a ghost or a yellow wheel clamp.

So, IMHO (again), it's about managing fear, not about the reality of a Cali being stolen.

We have a Sparesafe on the spare wheel ( club shop) a Safelock Pro on the steering wheel (Halfords) and a rear wheel lock ( when we go away and leave the van on the driveway.
All visible ( some might say fairly superficial ) deterrents , but anyone wanting to steal might think again having to grind through steering wheel lock and wheel brace.
Haven’t gone down the road of ‘trackers’.
Interesting that someone on this thread mentioned the Apple tag, at least that’s a ‘one off’ payment, might be worth consideration.

Hmm, the Apple tag does seem a good low cost option (might even help with those ‘where did I park the van?’ Moments too

It may be the battery life that could be an issue with the Apple tag, I’ll have to do further research on that.

BeeBee said:

It may be the battery life that could be an issue with the Apple tag, I’ll have to do further research on that.

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One year at least

chockswahay said:

Hmm, the Apple tag does seem a good low cost option (might even help with those ‘where did I park the van?’ Moments too

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They don’t really work. If anyone who has an iPhone is near it for an amount of time they get a warning that there is a tag nearby and the tag will chirp. There is though a tutorial on YT that shows you how to stop the chirp, but they will still be notified and can use their phone to pinpoint where it is within 1yard.

It’s a measure to stop them being used as tracking devices to snoop on people illegally.

Can help with the where is my van Q though, as can the WE app.

dspuk said:

They don’t really work. If anyone who has an iPhone is near it for an amount of time they get a warning that there is a tag nearby and the tag will chirp. There is though a tutorial on YT that shows you how to stop the chirp, but they will still be notified and can use their phone to pinpoint where it is within 1yard.

It’s a measure to stop them being used as tracking devices to snoop on people illegally.

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But if it’s hidden within the trim, you have a good chance of letting the police know before the thief finds the tag.

Ch1pbutty said:

But if it’s hidden within the trim, you have a good chance of letting the police know before the thief finds the tag.

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Possible, or they rip the trim to bits with a knife looking for it.

I don’t know what the police is like in your area but ringing them where we live is like the 7 trials of Hercules. Can’t imagine them leaping into action TBH.

I’d imagine they could have dismantled bolt by bolt and put back together again before they turned up.

That’s great thank you, I really appreciate all the responses. I have no idea why such a straight forward question would illicit a flippant response though? I’m not going to be sitting at home worrying about it, but if there’s simple stuff I can do that works as a good deterrent then I’ll do it. The campervan thefts we’ve had in the area have all been highly professional and most likely the same group I’d imagine. Yes insurance is great, and this is why I definitely won’t be worrying, but I still don’t want someone to steal my van as it’s ordered in my spec from the factory. I’ll likely never get an exact replacement so would be thoroughly pi**ed off. Great to know Calis are extremely secure campers.

A fair few Cali drivers use the bear lock which has had great reviews.

Ch1pbutty said:

Just remember to lock your van

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That’s the best advice

TheDoc said:

A fair few Cali drivers use the bear lock which has had great reviews.

Bear Lock - Vehicle Security - Theft Stop

Bear Lock Services - Contact Theft Stop for high quality Bear Lock installations - Call for a FREE quote today. 5* Bear lock services

theftstop.co.uk

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We have had a Bear Lock on our Cali for about 18 months, great bit of kit. We would definitely put one on any future van.

I don't know if this counts as flippant advice or not...

We live in Lewisham - an inner London suburb. All we do if worried is rotate the driver's seat. With a deadlocked door no one is going to be able to do anything to take it other than crane it onto a low loader. And if they want to go to those lengths they will take it whatever other security measures are in place.

Amarillo said:

We live in Lewisham - an inner London suburb. All we do if worried is rotate the driver's seat.

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To make it that extra bit harder, pull the steering wheel out as far as possible!

Oooooothemonkey said:

I’m after a bit of advice. The area I live in is generally low crime, however, there have been some camper-van thefts over the years. As I have a new T6.1 incoming I’d like to know what people thinking are the best security measures to put in place to protect your Cali from theft? Apologies if this has been discussed before. I’ve run a search and couldn’t find what I was looking for. Thanks!

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We live in a half decent area in the West Midlands. I’m connected with a lot of people on Next Door.
The last two years, I’ve seen a large increase in house break ins for car keys.
My daughters house included 4 weeks ago.
They take car keys upstairs.
2 years ago, they stole a Fiesta ST off my drive.
We had it back the next morning as a Facebook user had seen them dump it waiting to see if it had a tracker.
It now has a global Telemetrics tracker.
£12.49 a month.
And a ghost 2 fitted.
I have the same GTT & ghost 2 on wife’s Evouque and MY23 Cali Ocean.
Also stop locks through steering wheel
I’ve paid lots of money, and want to keep my vehicles

Oooooothemonkey said:

I’m after a bit of advice. The area I live in is generally low crime, however, there have been some camper-van thefts over the years. As I have a new T6.1 incoming I’d like to know what people thinking are the best security measures to put in place to protect your Cali from theft? Apologies if this has been discussed before. I’ve run a search and couldn’t find what I was looking for. Thanks!

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With a ghost, you can leave keys on the drivers seat and it can’t be stolen. Unless on a low loader

Oooooothemonkey said:

I’m after a bit of advice. The area I live in is generally low crime, however, there have been some camper-van thefts over the years. As I have a new T6.1 incoming I’d like to know what people thinking are the best security measures to put in place to protect your Cali from theft? Apologies if this has been discussed before. I’ve run a search and couldn’t find what I was looking for. Thanks!

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we use a LH wheel clamp and if it's for a longer period I use a motorcycle chain (4 stars) lock on the RH wheel to secure it to a garden fence. And I have "blacked out" the visible VIN in the front screen.

Someone, a while back, suggested always parking with full LH or RH steering, also checking the steering lock is engaged. This way it should be more difficult to get onto a low loader.

Californication69 said:

With a ghost, you can leave keys on the drivers seat and it can’t be stolen. Unless on a low loader

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Feels like it's a balance but Golf R owners and cars like them have found a gang in the bed room wanting the code for the ghost. California must be targeted less as they are more distinctive over a std VW transport conversion.

Viktorgeorge said:

Someone, a while back, suggested always parking with full LH or RH steering, also checking the steering lock is engaged. This way it should be more difficult to get onto a low loader.

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I have first hand experience of a type two being stolen, it was winched onto a flat bed truck, the two long black lines left on the pavement, from the tyres scrubbing bore whiteness to the fact, turning the steering wheel will add a bit of resistance but if it’s going to be taken it’s going to be taken.