Or: things we may have learned the hard way about RV security.

We just arrived back at the RV after leaving it in storage for a while. We did a walk-around and everything looked fine from the outside, but we got inside and everything had been trashed. Like, every cupboard open, everything inside it thrown on the floor kind of trashed. We were of course distressed by this, but neither of us could say we were surprised -- we had left an RV unattended for a month in a parking lot of a storage place in Baltimore. It was kind of an inevitability. (No offense to Baltimore. We still like you anyway.)

Once we started cleaning up, we noticed that some surprising things weren’t taken, but they had gone through all of the linens in the trunk and dumped out all of our extra toiletries and looked inside our fridge. Eventually we did discover that most of Mike’s camera gear (but luckily he hadn't left the actual cameras or storage) had been stolen, and also our AppleTV.

Here are some things we’ve learned about RV security, sometimes a little too late!

1) Don’t leave valuables in the RV.

Obviously, if you’re living out of your RV like us, this is not always an option. If you can, leave valuables at home or in storage somewhere. Keep copies of passports, ID, etc, and give copies to loved ones in case you need to recover them. Try to find clever ways to hide smaller things like ID or cash. Bigger things you might still be able to hide in slightly non-obvious places or at least in places that might not be worth trying to get to if someone is rummaging through your stuff in a hurry.

There are also some RV lockbox options for storing things like passports or cash. Some RVs have the option to build one straight into the RV, such as a metal compartment under the seats with a key lock. You can also buy some and add them on. Depending on your needs, you tend to have the option of either getting a really sturdy one that you can drill straight into your RV somewhere (usually the closet) so robbers can’t just pick it up and take it with them, but these won’t protect from things like flood or fire. But the ones that protect from flood or fire tend to just be boxes that someone could walk off with, so you need to find a place to hide it, which may be difficult in 320 square feet.

The new wave of security systems that doesn’t require being wired to the home can also be helpful in RVs. Complete with cameras, alarms, and remote help, and accessible via smartphone app, a security system can be a good addition to keep your stuff safe. There are also cheaper versions that are just an on-site alarm when a window or door gets opened.

2) Get insurance.

RV insurance is like a cross between homeowner’s insurance and car insurance. It’ll cover things that go wrong with the car and also things like theft of your stuff.

If the RV gets broken into, call the police. They’ll eventually show up, act annoyed that they’re there, fill out a form, and now you have a police report to help you file your insurance claim. Try not to mess with anything until the police arrive, but don’t be surprised if they don’t even bother looking around. Take lots of pictures and video of the state of things, especially the entry point where the robber broke in, and anything that’s broken.

3) Have an inventory of your valuables.

If you get broken into, it’s really hard to remember what you used to have. If things get stolen, it’ll also be really helpful to have make, model, and even serial number info for the insurance claim. At the very least, take some photos of your stuff at the beginning of your trip, or have a pack list, so you can cross reference and figure out what was taken. This’ll also help with the police report and insurance claim.

4) Leave your hubcaps at home.

Okay, this one is tongue in cheek, but our hubcaps were the first to go, really early on in the trip. If you’ll be going for a long haul or parking in sketchy places, leave those babies at home and put them back on if you ever decide to resell your rig.

5) Get extra locks for the windows.

It’s probably unlikely that a smash-and-grab robber will actually smash -- they’ll probably come in through a door or window. Always make sure your doors and windows are locked, and then get some little window stopper thingies (like this: https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B005H3N43K/) that screw onto the sill and prevent them from being opened from the outside. You can find those at any hardware store.

6) The personal data is the most valuable.

Your camera can be replaced, but the photos on it can’t. Your laptop can be replaced but your personal information on it can’t. Not to mention the risk of stolen credit cards, or worse, a stolen identity, if they get things like your wallet or social security number.

Make sure all your personal data is backed up regularly. Think photos, SD cards, harddrives, phones, computers, and personal documents. Anything you wouldn’t want a stranger to put on the internet.

Also, please put locks on your devices! (I’m looking at you, parents!) Have a password to get into your phone and your computer. Ideally, have a way to wipe your data remotely, too. The last thing you’d want is a stranger swiping your phone and having access to all your emails and accounts.

Not to mention, as we were in the thick of figuring out what was taken, the only stuff that made my stomach turn in knots was the stuff that might have personal stuff on it. Luckily, we didn’t leave much of anything with data in the RV, and the things that may have had personal stuff on it the robbers didn’t seem to care about. This is definitely the main stuff worth protecting.

7) The feeling of vulnerability is the worst part.

Almost everything can be replaced, but there’s nothing quite like the feeling of knowing a stranger has just been in your home and rifled through all of your things. There’s no solution to this one but time and doing your best to prevent it from happening again.

But now, at the very least, we can proudly proclaim that we are definitely not newbies anymore!