Another sad tale.

[travellerone]

Pick up truck stealing a hobby. Guess who !
http://www.leaderlive.co.uk/home/2017/11/23/gallery/cctv-footage-shows-brazen-thieves-smashing-through-gates-to-steal-30ft-caravan-in-flintshire-100522/

 

[otherclive]

Pick up truck stealing a hobby. Guess who !
http://www.leaderlive.co.uk/home/2017/11/23/gallery/cctv-footage-shows-brazen-thieves-smashing-through-gates-to-steal-30ft-caravan-in-flintshire-100522/

With the proliferation of CCTV in UK the police should have a darn good idea of where it is, but caravan theft may not be that high priority. Our local force have now decided to set up task group to tackle domestic burglary as over 3 years the rate went up 44% and convictions were almost zero. They admit that they took their eye off of the ball, or as some would believe spent too much time investigating Ted Heath.

 

[Parksy]

Travellerone, your link didn't work.
The footage of the theft is Here.
The police have given no indication of any suspects, but the Hobby caravan that was stolen was tracked near to the West Midlands.
The owners of the caravan were insured, I'm not sure if they'd want their caravan back now.

 

[outdoors]

They also won't want their next insurance premium, believe me I've been there.

 

[Raywood]

Both links worked for me. The first one is the theft of a Bailey and the second a Hobby. No great doubt about where the thieves of the Hobby came from and the theft rate of their larger models does make them very vulnerable. The storage should have had a camera positioned so all vehicles at the entrance were videoed and the number might have shown up.

 

[camel]

I do not know any of my fellow caravan mates that tow with a six pack flat bed and go round nicking other folks caravans, now let me think who could do this, the Salvation Army,no.; Christian Aid,no. Help Donkeys carrying heavy loads in Greece,no, the RSPCA, no, my local dog rescue center, no, my local doctors surgery when I'm trying to get an appointment , no, a Black country comedian trying to be funny, no. So who are these folks that do this. Do I not want to use the 'P' word, NO

 

[Raywood]

I do not know any of my fellow caravan mates that tow with a six pack flat bed and go round nicking other folks caravans, now let me think who could do this, the Salvation Army,no.; Christian Aid,no. Help Donkeys carrying heavy loads in Greece,no, the RSPCA, no, my local dog rescue center, no, my local doctors surgery when I'm trying to get an appointment , no, a Black country comedian trying to be funny, no. So who are these folks that do this. Do I not want to use the 'P' word, NO

I am afraid that one look at the vehicle will tell you roughly who they are.

 

[Dustydog]

The truth is these units are stolen to order and within 4 hours are somewhere i in the Eastern European territories.
Historically , you really don't want your stolen caravan back.

 

[Raywood]

The truth is these units are stolen to order and within 4 hours are somewhere i in the Eastern European territories.
Historically , you really don't want your stolen caravan back.

Not sure who would steal a basic caravan when more upmarket ones are there, but it is true that many stolen ones do go abroad when stolen near the South Coast. From the Police though a lot also go to Ireland within hours of the theft. You do get reports of cars and caravans with different number plates boarding ferries so if the Police at the ports were a bit more aware then a few might be recovered before they disappeared entirely.

 

[otherclive]

The truth is these units are stolen to order and within 4 hours are somewhere i in the Eastern European territories.
Historically , you really don't want your stolen caravan back.

No. They’d be caught in Germany as doing that trip in four hours would see them well over the German speed limit for caravans 🙂

 

[otherclive]

Recently a caravan was stolen from a local storage area near to us. The thieves cut through three substantial perimeter fences and hauled the caravan across field to a main road. It happened around mid day. The caravan was recovered as a result of a road traffic incident in the Thames Valley area and the 31 year old was released on bail. I kept my caravan on that site and the owners were fastidious in their procedures and technology. It’s a Gold CaSSOA site which shows that despite all of the precautions a wiley thief can often find a way around. This one looks as if they managed to find a gap in cctv coverage by attacking across fields. This was attempted many years ago but was unsuccessful and the thieves truck had to be abandoned after getting stuck in the ploughed area.

 

[otherclive]

Recently a caravan was stolen from a local storage area near to us. The thieves cut through three substantial perimeter fences and hauled the caravan across field to a main road. It happened around mid day. The caravan was recovered as a result of a road traffic incident in the Thames Valley area and the 31 year old was released on bail. I kept my caravan on that site and the owners were fastidious in their procedures and technology. It’s a Gold CaSSOA site which shows that despite all of the precautions a wiley thief can often find a way around. This one looks as if they managed to find a gap in cctv coverage by attacking across fields. This was attempted many years ago but was unsuccessful and the thieves truck had to be abandoned after getting stuck in the ploughed area.

 

[PHOENIXFLIER]

Having read many of these sad stories on here and elsewhere, makes me wonder if its really worth the time / effort / money to try and protect our possessions, as no matter what precautions are taken the determined thief seems to be able to find a way round it. Might as well make sure its well insured....and if goes....it goes!.

 

[Hutch]

Having read many of these sad stories on here and elsewhere, makes me wonder if its really worth the time / effort / money to try and protect our possessions, as no matter what precautions are taken the determined thief seems to be able to find a way round it. Might as well make sure its well insured....and if goes....it goes!.

Phoenix I think your probably correct,
Enjoy your trip North steady and safe mate.

 

[Raywood]

Having read many of these sad stories on here and elsewhere, makes me wonder if its really worth the time / effort / money to try and protect our possessions, as no matter what precautions are taken the determined thief seems to be able to find a way round it. Might as well make sure its well insured....and if goes....it goes!.

There is no right answer to that one but in most instances thieves will look for the easiest target that suits what they are looking for. Basically security devices buy you time and the quicker they can get away the safer they are which is why they may choose one from a selection of caravans. If you do not secure the caravan yours is likely to be the one taken because it is the easiest but they may need something different and if so you will get away with it.
Tracker type devices do work reasonably well in getting a caravan or vehicle back very quickly but if thieves do not realise they are there you may still get the theft.
The best defence is to remove all the soft furnishings and leave the curtains open as without them the caravan is not worth stealing.
Basically all you can do is make life for the thieves as difficult as possible but if they really want yours then they may go to extreme lengths to get it.

 

[Gafferbill]

Not for everyone I know .........I have a deliberate policy of keeping my old 1995 Swift.

Very unlikely that anyone would want to steal it as it has very little value......It is dry, well maintained, much modified and modernised with everything working as it should.
Insurance is only £50/year and it does not cause me any anxiety or worries........I want good times from owning a caravan not hassle 🙂

 

[Buckman]

We have a Proactive Phantom Tracker fitted and if the caravan was entered or moved a foot we would be notified. Many new caravans only have a Tracker Retrieve fitted which means you need to notify the tracking company if the caravan is stolen and if the caravan is in storage this may be weeks before you realise it is missing. We also have wheel locks on both wheels and the AKS3004 hitch lock which cannot be removed easily.

 

[Gabsgrandad]

Buckman wrote - "We also have wheel locks on both wheels and the AKS3004 hitch lock which cannot be removed easily."
Sorry friend , if they want it they'll take it - you may slow 'em but you won't stop 'em!
Burning guns reign!

 

[Buckman]

In addition they have to find some way to raise the steadies and also the jacks however you are correct which is why we have the Proactive tracker which will notify us straight away if any one interferes with the caravan.

 

[otherclive]

In addition they have to find some way to raise the steadies and also the jacks however you are correct which is why we have the Proactive tracker which will notify us straight away if any one interferes with the caravan.

You are right re the Tracker, but legs take less time to cut off than the hitchcock or wheel lock. These guys don't care about damage as they can either be stripped and sold for parts or set up on a rough site with four scissors jacks underneath.

 

[Dustydog]

We cancelled the Tracker subscription this year. Approx £180 per annum. Insurance premium rose by £25 or so. A no brainer.
Ours is 8 years old and now we don’t worry too much.
If it is stolen you really don’t want it back. A couple had their’s stolen a few years ago. It was recovered but well trashed and dented. The repair costs were not quite enough to write it off. It was repaired but the wife hated it. They pxd it at a £3k loss.

 

[Buckman]

We have the Phantom Tracker Pro 3 and cost works to less than £100 a year but our caravan is not even a year old.