Van security: our fears, our struggles, and our little arsenal

Security in camper vans and vans: assault, theft, and protection

Living in a van year-round means embracing a bit of crazy freedom… but it also exposes you to very real risks. Between assaults (rare but impactful), opportunistic theft, and hassles at borders, security in camper vans definitely deserves serious attention. After more than three years of van life, we ended up separating the topic into two axes: your safety on one side, and the protection of your vehicle on the other. With our lived anecdotes, our mistakes (there were some), and the solutions we eventually adopted.

Well… let’s be honest right away: when we left, we thought the hardest part would be finding where to empty the wastewater (spoiler: it wasn’t). We hardly thought about security. Then there was that famous first week in a parking lot, where we realized we had been a bit naive. So below, with Caroline, we unpack the whole topic slowly, with photos of our gear (yes, we ended up equipping ourselves well… you’ll see).

Our troubles: when security becomes very real

Before talking about equipment and paperwork, let me tell you what we experienced. Because security in van life, as long as you haven’t felt it in your gut, remains a somewhat abstract idea… and then one night, it no longer is.

The car watching us, near Sirmione

Our first scare led us to an isolated parking lot in Italy, not far from Sirmione. Alone for the night, peaceful, until a car parked oddly next to us, headlights on. Behind our closed shutters, keeping an eye out, we watched its occupants stay inside, unmoving, as if they were spying on us. We didn’t try to understand: instinct told us to leave, so we left. We’ll never know what they wanted… and that’s just fine.

The “ninjas” at the rest area near Narbonne

One night at a service area for camper vans near Narbonne taught us a valuable lesson in vigilance. It’s past 11 PM, we go to bed, and Caroline hears a huge noise on the roof. A big cat, she says (our bed is right next to the ceiling, even the slightest thing echoes). I wake up with a start, speak loudly, bang on the roof just in case… and then nothing.

The next day, we talk to others a bit further down the area. And there, an entire row of camper vans had been burgled during the night. By real ninjas, people capable of sneaking in and stealing while others slept. Imagine: 10 m², and yet they left with belongings. One guy even told us he felt a presence in his camper van while sleeping… and he didn’t move. That calms you down.

The train station night, the one that marked us the most

The most unsettling happened in a train station parking lot, barely a week after we picked up the camper van. An appointment forced us to sleep there (a train station parking lot is not ideal). And then, in the middle of the night, shouts and sounds of struggle right next to us. Thuds, insults… and we, inside, see nothing. Just sounds. So naturally, we imagine the worst: a man being beaten on the ground? How many are they? Do they know we’re here?

I’ll be frank: we were frozen in bed, motionless, unable to decide what to do. We even thought, at that moment, that it would be our last night of road-tripping. By morning, complete calm, no trace of the night before. That night, we learned two things: that the world, well… it’s not exactly the Care Bears’ world, and that our imagination can be a source of anxiety as great as real danger.

And the day Morocco confiscated everything from us

A little administrative twist: before crossing into Morocco, we checked, and discovered that a good part of our defense equipment is simply prohibited at the border. Our airsoft (a very realistic replica with laser sight) and our pepper spray, in particular. Customs officers search and confiscate without discussion. So we left everything in Portugal for the duration of our stay, and we set off as the saying goes, with not much on hand (except for kitchen knives, thanks). We’ll come back to this later, because the law really changes from country to country.

Personal safety: protecting against assaults

Direct assault remains fortunately rare in van life. But the fear of being vulnerable at night, in a tin box far from everything, is very real. Here’s how we manage.

Choosing a good spot, day and night

The choice of spot is 50% of your peace of mind. It’s all about finding the right balance between accessibility and discretion, without ever falling into total isolation.

Find your spot before nightfall to assess the atmosphere. Vanlife apps like Park4Night are invaluable: always read the recent comments, and if several people report prowlers or broken windows, move on. And I’ll give you the most important rule of the entire article, the one that has saved us several nights: if you don’t feel good somewhere, you don’t discuss it, you leave. You’ll have a much better night elsewhere.

Life-saving reflexes

These are the gestures that cost nothing and change everything, those that become automatic after a few nights:

• Systematic locking: before sleeping, check every door, window, and vent
• Blackout curtains: lights on at night, everything is visible from outside. Close as soon as possible
• Accessible keys: keep the ignition keys within reach for emergency departures
• Parking oriented for exit: park in a way that allows you to leave the van without maneuvering
• Discretion: don’t leave anything valuable visible from the outside

Self-defense: what we carried in mainland Europe (and a UK warning)

A delicate but necessary subject. When you sleep in an isolated place, it’s normal to want to be able to defend yourself. But before we show you our gear, here’s the crucial part for a UK reader:

Here is what we carried on the road in Europe, and especially what we honestly think about it (because equipping yourself is good, knowing how to use it is better).

The pepper spray (gel) is our number one reflex: small, effective, easy to hide almost anywhere (glove compartment, basket near the door, within direct reach). We even have several, in strategic locations.

One real trap: don’t use it if the person is already inside… because in 10 m², it spreads everywhere and you’ll gas yourself beautifully. The gel, unlike the spray, limits this issue a bit.

The telescopic baton deploys with a flick of the wrist and makes an impression, for closer encounters. As a pair, we divide the roles: one with the baton if the person is close, the other with the spray to keep distance.

And then there’s the most impressive piece: a gas defense gun (type HDR 50). Normally, you never use it… but just pointing the little red laser at an intruder is often enough to make them back off. It charges with rubber balls (it hurts without injuring) or steel (which hits much harder).


But let’s be honest: something like this requires practice. You have six shots, and if you miss your target, you’d better be very quick with the spray right after. Caroline will tell you herself: in a stressful situation, she would be unable to use it. So if you go this route, get some training, otherwise, you might as well stick with just the pepper spray. On top of that, a simple personal alarm (a small device at 120 dB) remains the lightest and most universal option.

Our two free tips (called “poor man’s tips”)

My favorites, because they cost nothing. The first is the Schrödinger’s dog technique: place the biggest bowl possible in front of your door, and voilà… everyone thinks there’s a big mean dog inside. The general idea is to make the other doubt: they also don’t know who they are dealing with (you know, those vans painted with skulls that we never dare to check… play on that). The second: your smoke detector. If someone gets too close and you have nothing else, trigger it intentionally. It screams something crazy, wakes up the whole neighborhood, and most of the time, the intruder runs off immediately.

What is actually legal to carry in the UK

In the UK, your best legal tools are the non-violent ones: a personal safety alarm (a loud 120-140 dB device, perfectly legal and genuinely effective at scaring someone off and drawing attention), a bright torch, and above all situational awareness. Everything on the vehicle-security side below (locks, alarms, cameras, lighting) is legal everywhere and does most of the heavy lifting. And the number one rule never changes: if a spot does not feel right, the smartest “weapon” is your ignition key. You leave.

Legislation: what is allowed and what is not

A major point before equipping yourself: the legislation changes from country to country, and sometimes radically. What is tolerated at home can get you into serious trouble at a border. A quick overview (to be checked before each trip, mind you, it changes):

Protecting your camper van and van against theft

The second axis of security in camper vans is your vehicle and your belongings. Theft is more frequent than assault, and especially opportunistic and quick: a poorly locked vehicle, visible items, an isolated parking lot. A thief wants minimal time and minimal hassle, your job is to complicate their life.

Mechanical anti-theft devices: steering wheel, locks, padlocks

Nothing beats a good old visible mechanical anti-theft device. A thief who sees a steering wheel lock or a pedal lock through the windshield often passes by.

• Steering wheel lock: the most visible and deterrent. Expect to pay £30 to £100 depending on the model
• Pedal lock: physically prevents engaging the clutch or brake
• Additional locks (like Heosafe or Meroni UFO) on side and rear doors: a worthwhile investment
• Reinforced padlock for the cell door if it is separate from the cabin

A little tip borrowed from the previous owners of our van: they wrote on the door that there was no video equipment or valuables inside. It doesn’t fool a pro… but sometimes it’s enough to make a hurried thief doubt.

Alarms and intrusion detectors

A good alarm combined with detectors transforms your vehicle into a small fortress. There are two complementary types:

• Perimeter alarm: detects the opening of doors, windows, and vents. The first line of defense
• Volumetric alarm: detects movements inside (ultrasound or infrared). The ideal complement

Surveillance cameras for camper vans

For the days when you’re out and about far from your vehicle, a connected surveillance camera changes everything. You monitor your camper van in real-time from your phone, receive an alert at the slightest movement, and can even talk to a potential intruder via the speaker. Today it costs almost nothing, and the bonus we hadn’t anticipated: it also helps us monitor the cat and talk to him when we’re away.

GPS tracker: getting your stolen vehicle back

If your vehicle is stolen, a well-hidden GPS tracker can change everything. Subscription-free models (like Invoxia) with several months of battery life are the most practical for a leisure vehicle. Tuck it somewhere discreet and hard to reach: under the chassis, in a false bottom, or behind a panel.

Theft insurance: what does it really cover?

Never underestimate a van-specific insurance with theft cover. Check that your policy actually covers:

• Theft of the vehicle itself
• Theft of the contents (electronics, equipment)
• Vandalism and broken windows
• Breakdown and assistance abroad

For more on insurance suited to nomadic life, take a look at our vanlife insurance guide.

PS: since all this, we sleep so much better in our van than in most hotels… even if Caroline still hears the occasional “big cat” on the roof. (It was never a cat. Ever.) Do not let fear stop you from living this adventure: prepare, equip yourself, and enjoy the road. And if you are looking for ideas on where to spend the night, have a look at our guide to where to sleep on a road trip.