Attempted theft of caravan....

[Pat_374304630]

Hi,

As some of you know we are getting a new van shortly. I decided on Saturday to clean our current van ready for part exchange. I had finished and was just cleaning the hitch when I noticed a deep gouge on one side of the al-ko hitch I the checked the other side and noticed a similar gouge. It looked like someone had reversed up to the van with considerable force but was unable to connect or was disturbed.

My wife and I are quite shocked as we live in a village at the end of a cul de sac. Now worried about the new van.

So if you live in the Northampton area please be extra vigilant.

 

[BedfordGeorge]

Hello Pat,

This is a worrying event for you, glad it did not escalate into a full theft, particularly with the new van imminent. Just a thought, if you are having a mover fitted to the new van, you would be able to park the van with the hitch toward the house, this would make it more difficult to steal, in the manner you outlined.

Best regards,

Your near neighbour

George

 

[cathymac]

That's a shock for anyone. I think they must have been opportunists because professionals would not have been hampered because of hitchlock. Thank god they weren't successful.

George makes a good point about parking the van the other way round.

 

[Lord Braykewynde]

I do like George suggested plus the fact that our drive slopes towards the bungalow making it even more difficult. No doubt the scrotes would even get around that if given the chance.

 

[BrianStAlbans]

"just cleaning the hitch when I noticed a deep gouge on one side of the al-ko hitch I the checked the other side and noticed a similar gouge".

Are these at the bottom ,if so have you got an Alko towball fitted to your car?

 

[Pat_374304630]

Hi, Thanks for your support.

Where we keep the van on the drive means that it must be over to one side, so that we can get access to it. If I turned it round the other way it would be awkward to wind down the offside front leg as it is surrounded on 3 sides by a brick wall. But having discussed it with my wife we concluded that there is a way round it. If it's difficult for me, it will be difficult for them. So we will turn it round the other way. No mover I'm afraid.

Been and bought ourselves an al-ko wheel lock specially designed for these new vans. It cost

 

[Sproket]

Hi Pat

I have to keep my van in with the hitch to the front, but i have a mover & get it very close & parallel to the fence, i have made a heavy duty security post that folds down to let the van out & the hitch is locked to that, so with the wheel clamp & the post it makes it more difficult to move, and the i have to get it out of the gate.

.... i try to make it as difficult as possible for it to be moved ....

 

[jonah]

Hello Pat,

We are really sorry to hear your news. Thankyou for letting us know as we live in a village in South Northants and even though we have our van in storage, that is still in South Northants. We also have the van on the drive quite a bit, when we are getting it ready for our trips. I must admit, we too live in a cul de sac and I have seen 'transits' driving slow past our drive on more than one occasion when our van has been on there -needless to say, didn't sleep so good those nights!

All the best, take care.

Jonah.

 

[Pat_374304630]

Hi all,

Sprocket, I've been thinking of something similar

Brian, in response to your question, yes the gouges were at the bottom and I have an al-ko towball.

Take care