Sadly hundreds of cycles are stolen from camp sites every year and it does not seem to mater how good your padlock is the thief seems to find away to release your bicycle and steal it. However, this additional security measure is in addition to using a good quality lock to secure your bike to a secure object.
Well here’s an idea which could stop them in their tracks and avoid you losing your bikes.
Most caravans are hooked up to the caravan parks electrical supply. When you are storing your bikes away at night interweave the supply cable through the cycles and reconnect it to the caravan. Inside fit a mains failure alarm or even a lantern that’s designed to come on if the mains electricity fails.
If the thief tries to steal the bicycle they have to either cut the cable or un-plug the electric hookup cable at the site hook up point. What ever action they take sounds an alarm / activates a light and you can quickly check what’s happening.
Also fix a clear notice on the cable at the bike saying “Mains Electricity 240v AC this Bike is protected by a remote alarm do not remove until isolated.”
The diagram below shows the arrangement so you can see clearly how it will work.
A couple of things to check before doing this:
- only use this method if it's safe to do so
- make sure that your mains cable is in good order so that there is no risk of electrocution from a frayed wire for example
- check that you do not invalidate your insurances by doing this.