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There are risks everywhere and when traveling, sometimes in unfamiliar areas, we don’t always know well every area we’re in. Thieves know that and seek to exploit it but there are things you can do to up your personal security.

Consider ways to make them visible. There are solar motion lights available that charge anywhere the panel on them gets the required amount of light – and properly placed can light up the side of your rig when someone approaches. Further security is available with use of a motion activated camera often used for wildlife and other applications.

The use of lights and photos along with the previously mentioned alarms not only create unwanted attention – which thieves do not want – but go one step further in documenting. It is very hard to say you weren’t there or that it was just misunderstood when it’s caught on tape with aggressive action!

Pepper spray, kept hidden in the RV, is one way to deter and mark a thief. Remember to look at ordinary things. A cane, a solid flashlight or pan can be used as a weapon. Don’t overlook a small fire extinguisher! The chemical powder can mark an intruder to where even if he runs away he has the chemical powder on him.

In most cases when someone is trying to get into your RV especially knowing that someone is in the rig it is not someone who is thinking too far ahead. Choosing a not-remote place to park means there’s the chance of someone around. Attract attention!

Many varieties of personal stun guns are available now that can effectively take a person down. Having an accessible one in the RV might be a good idea – one use can be enough to save a life and what is that worth?

For those looking to do a little more consider taking a personal self defense course at a martial arts or other business. The amount of force and strength is not great if you use balance and use what you have at your disposal.

Set off alarms. Have a whistle available for emergency situations. Use whatever means of defense you can lay your hands on and do so without apology. Your rig is your home – and anyone there (or trying to get there) without an invitation is no different than someone breaking in your home.

In August 2008 in Minot, North Dakota a trio of folks were talking in a RV park, outside their RV, when a man approached, causing problems and leading to a fight that became physical. The man brought a metal pipe, swung it at the lady’s husband and she shot him four times in the leg, stopping to reload. She was acting in self defense and no charges were filed against her – the wannabe tough guy will live.

It’s well worth mentioning that although it *is* self defense and as such it’s better to be alive than not, one should be aware of gun laws before taking that step of protection.

There are numerous ways RVers can protect themselves both with normal items applied in new ways as well as with self defense and whichever you use be sure that you’re comfortable with it. When someone is breaking in it’s too late to read how to operate the stun gun!

Have a plan, have the items accessible inside the rig and although we all hope we never have to use them, it’s better to have it and not need it than to be a statistic. The RV is your area and no one has a right to it uninvited.