A hitch lock is the minimum security you should have for your caravan but how do you buy one that will be acceptable to your insurer, along with their other security requirements, and how do you choose one that will provide a real deterrent to thieves.

Almost all caravan insurance policies require that you fit a hitch lock or a wheel clamp and in some cases both, whenever you leave the caravan unattended. If you don't do this and your caravan is stolen then unless your policy allows for a period of grace, or a higher excess if you forget to fit it, your insurer will most probably not pay for your loss. A hitch lock is therefore a very important item for all caravan owners so how do you find a good one, how much can you expect to have to spend on one and what can you expect in security terms from your hitch lock?

A hitch lock acts as a deterrent and will slow a thief down but don't expect it to make having your caravan stolen impossible. A determined and experienced thief can remove any hitch lock in a few minutes. Remember they have probably done it before and carry the tools to remove the hitch lock using techniques that they have perfected over time. In fact some gangs have invented devices that allow them to tow a caravan or other trailer with the hitch lock still in place. Once you accept that a hitch lock is not perfect your decision is changed from the unrealistic "I want to buy a hitch lock that will prevent my caravan being stolen" to the more realistic "I want a hitch lock that will slow a thief down and will necessitate them making some sound to get it off". The Police tell us that one thing that stops a thief is the fear of being caught.

It is a fact that almost all caravans that have been stolen in the last 10 years had a hitch lock and/or a wheel clamp fitted so you might be forgiven for thinking "why do insurers insist on me having one". The big question though is "how many would have been stolen without this most basic of security?" The answer to that question is certainly many more.

In December 2004 Practical Caravan Magazine http://www.practicalcaravan.com/product/dec04.html tested 11 hitch locks to destruction. They used the kind of tools often used by caravan thieves and recorded the time taken to remove the lock. Six of the locks took less than 3 minutes to defeat despite some of these carrying the Sold Secure Gold Standard, the worst one, not Sold Secure approved I should hasten to add took just 9 seconds of "quiet attack" to remove. The best took over 5 minutes of banging and clanking to get off but none defeated the testers. Although this test is now 5 years old the best then remains one of the best today.

Sold Secure test various types of physical security devices and grade approved devices into a number of categories.

"The Silver level offers basic security, a cost effective product for the occasions when a caravan is stored in a good location. When a higher level of security is required, then the products approved to the Gold standard are available."

Though why would you willingly buy a silver standard device when for a few pounds more you can have a gold standard one. Most insurers don't specify what type or standard of hitch lock you should have leaving you to make the decision. The difference in price between the best and one that can easily be removed is only a few pounds and you owe it to yourself to get the best deterrent you can.

A good quality Gold Standard approved hitch lock is likely to cost you around £ 70, perhaps as much as £100 if you have a caravan with one of the rarer tow hitches. The main manufacturers such as Bulldog have variations on their standard locks to fit different hitches including those with integral stabilisers. So whatever type of hitch you can get a top notch lock to suit it.

Make sure that you read the small print of what is required in your own caravan insurance policy but whatever their requirements a good quality hitch lock should be your absolute minimum security equipment it should last for the life of your caravan so you should only need to buy one. Buy wisely and it will provide you with good service for years to come. You may also need other security in order to comply with the specific requirements of your policy, some insurers also require a wheel clamp and may have more stringent storage requirements in order to maintain cover for theft. Please make sure that you read and understand what they expect you to do.