Spotlight on Sold Secure

As soon as you enter Sold Secure it’s immediately apparent that security locks are at the heart of their business. From the Master Locksmiths Association’s magnificent museum and display of locks through the ages, to its dedicated training room and Sold Secure’s test lab, this is where a vast array of mechanical security devices are put through their paces.

Where Sold Secure started

Sold Secure was set up by the Police in 1992, with the help and backing of the Home Office, because vehicle crime was rife and there was a need for some sort of certification to set after-market mechanical security products that were fit for purpose apart from those that weren’t. It is now administered by the not-for-profit Master Locksmiths Association (MLA) and operates out of a purpose-built test facility in the MLA’s headquarters

Based in Rugby, Sold Secure is responsible for independently testing and certifying a wide range of mechanical security devices.

There are numerous categories of approval to cover most locks – from caravan and trailer to caravan wheel locks, automotive, motorcycle, bicycle, ground anchor, padlocks and more.

“We cannot stress enough the importance of investing in high-quality products that have been independently tested by a third party,” said Sold Secure lab manager Guy McCaffery. “The Sold Secure logo gives you the peace of mind that you’ve invested in something that has been independently tested for its security.

“We will test a product for its resilience to attack. We haven’t got a vested interest in the product – we’re impartial. The higher the grading the more resistant the product is to attack.”

What are the different Sold Secure specification gradings for leisure vehicles?

The Sold Secure specifications and gradings are written with input and information from the Police, and, wherever possible insurance companies, and associations like the National Caravan Council.

• Caravan and trailer (SS103) – silver and gold gradings
• Caravan Wheel locks Diamond – (SS110) – the only product that is currently approved to this specification is the Al-Ko Secure axle wheel lock
• Motorhome and campervans: Automotive (SS102) – silver, gold and diamond gradings

A Silver product will offer theft resistance against an enhanced tool list (aimed at preventing more determined attacks).

A Gold product will offer theft resistance against a dedicated tool list (aimed at preventing dedicated attacks)

A Diamond product will offer the highest level of theft resistance and testing will include the use of specialist tools (aimed at preventing the most destructive attacks that could include angle grinders)

There are other devices that might be used to secure a caravan or motorhome, which have their own gradings, such as ground anchors and security posts, chains, and padlocks.

It’s easy to find a Sold Secure approved product on their website by product type and specification and grade.

What type of caravan and motorhome security products does Sold Secure test?

• Wheel clamps for caravans and motorhomes
• Caravan wheel locks
• Hitchlocks
• Security posts
• Steering wheel locks
• Pedal locks
• Ground anchors, padlocks and chains – used for anchoring a chassis to the floor

How do you test a motorhome or caravan security product?

Devices are tested in situ in an as real-world scenario as possible.

“We’d fit the product to a vehicle, whether that be a caravan chassis, a motorhome, or another vehicle,” added Guy.

There’s a twin-axle caravan chassis at Sold Secure with alloy wheels on one side and steel wheels on the other. Products such as a motorhome pedal lock or steering wheel lock would be tested on a van.

Using their vast array of tools in their armoury, Sold Secure testers “attack” the products in a way a thief would and try to remove them or bypass the security device. Testing for each grade would use different tools and would be allocated a certain amount of time.

Maintaining Sold Secure approval

Sold Secure carries out an annual audit of security products and every product is tested each year to make sure it’s of the same quality.

Preventing caravan and motorhome theft

When we asked Sold Secure what kind of products they would buy to secure a caravan and a motorhome, Guy’s recommendation was to use multiple devices to slow down a thief or to make them think twice about trying to attack a leisure vehicle.

For a caravan, he recommended using a wheel lock approved to a Sold Secure Caravan Wheel Locks Diamond, and if a twin axle caravan, a different Caravan Gold approved wheel clamp or lock on the other axle; a Caravan Gold approved hitchlock, a ground anchor approved to a Ground Anchors Gold or Diamond, with a chain of a similar grade, such as Motorcycle Gold or Diamond, around the chassis or A-frame of the caravan; and a security post for the end of the driveway, if stored at home, approved to Security Posts Gold.

For a motorhome, Guy recommended fitting an Automotive Gold-approved wheel clamp, an Automotive Gold-approved pedal lock and steering wheel lock; plus a security post for the end of the drive, if stored at home, approved to Security Posts Gold.

For more information about Sold Secure visit their website: www.soldsecure.com