Cheap and Easy Campsite Security

Preventing valuable items — think bicycles, expensive barbecues or even a favorite patio chair — from being stolen while camping can be challenging at times. Chains, cables and strong locks help, but it’s easy to find tools on the Internet that will cut through these security devices in literally seconds with nary a sound — and believe me, even a bicycle can be “lifted” in seconds if not secure.

Taking a proactive stance can help dissuade crooks from stealing things that are on the patio, in the bed of a tow vehicle or even in a storage compartment. One of the best ways to encourage thieves to look elsewhere is to use a surprisingly inexpensive bicycle alarm — which has many more practical purposes than simply protecting bicycles. With a little creative placement, these alarms can also be used to emit a screeching alarm if someone tries to enter your rig while enjoying happy hour on a neighbor’s patio or when you are not looking.

There is nothing fancy or sophisticated about these alarms. Even though these alarms are designed specifically to protect bicycles, the electronics are encased in a small plastic housing that can be mounted virtually anywhere (brackets are provided to mount the alarm under the bicycle seat or on the seat post, although many riders use a cable tie to mount the device on a frame member). While there are dozens of these devices online, we’ve had great luck with the “Wireless Bike Alarm + Ultra-bright Taillight + Bike Finder” found on Amazon for $24.50. (The name actually has 28 words, but if you enter the shortened description shown here, you’ll get there.)

The alarm also has a red light (flashing or always on) that provides additional visibility for bike riders, but it can be turned off using the remote key fob that controls all the functions. Once activated by the key fob, which is signaled by a loud chirp, the alarm is silent until someone touches the item that’s being protected. The slight vibration will cause the device to project a loud warning signal. If the perpetrator insists on continuing his/her quest, the alarm blares out a loud, annoying noise to warn you or bystanders that something is not right. Most crooks will not stick around.

For example, RV Enthusiast Technical Director Bill Gehr installed the alarm on a screen door years ago and the device has functioned flawlessly. Attaching the alarm to an RV’s screen door takes some creativity, but if you have a grab bar, it can be mounted with the bracket that comes with the alarm; otherwise, you’ll have to use a cable tie. Lippert markets its Screen Assist RV Push Bar ($28) and Camco offers a RV Screen Door Cross Bar ($43.35), which can be found at RV supply stores or Amazon. Mounting the alarm to the screen door will provide security when the main door is open, allowing air to circulate into the interior.

The alarm recommended requires charging via a USB connection, but the lithium batteries last for a long time. In fact, in this case the alarm only required recharging every couple of months. The alarm can even be mounted to a portable generator, which seems to be a prime target for thieves these days.

An abnoxiously loud, brightly lit alarm is probably the cheapest electronic security device one can buy — and can offer a tremendous amount of protection for your valuables.