Time taken to steal a caravan

[Bobster999]

Just going through the trauma of having to replace a stolen van
I was amazed at how easily and quickly the last van was stolen

Van was stored on a working farm on what In believed was a reasonably secure compound surrounded by a moat on three sides and a ditch on the 4th side with access through 2 barriers and the farm required

Scumbags broke through 3 locked gates and drove across three fields and one ditch to get into compound from the rear

Alarm and tracker activated at 4.15 am at 4.17 tracker signaled loss of power to van but tracker was still signaling that it was stationary

At 4.45 arrived at site van gone

2 alko wheel locks removed by cutting receivers off chassis with gas

Hitch lock cut off again with gas corner steady locks broken off

Alarm and tracker ripped out

Van was recovered 2 miles away in the middle of a field the motor mover had hit something and locked up the wheels making it impossible to continue towing

With hindsight I was lucky they were away when my son and I arrived otherwise there might have been a problem.

So it appears that it doesn’t matter what security you have if they want it they will take it

The best security appears to be having an auto motor mover and leaving it on the wheels as this did stop them dead in there tracks but this would most likely damage the tyres

 

[Craigyoung]

The best security appears to be having an auto motor mover and leaving it on the wheels as this did stop them dead in there tracks but this would most likely damage the tyres

Sorry to hear you've gone through all of that, that's everybody's worst nightmare but like you say when I bring mine home and park it on the drive I always leave the rollers on the tires engaged , one more deterent .

Craig

 

[Bobster999]

Yea I’ve always done that but only for short periods do you have any thoughts on doing this long term ?

 

[Hutch]

Sorry to hear about you vans theft, we store ours on a small chicken farm and the farmer puts a two ton trailer across the entrance which can only be moved by big heavy tractors, BUt these people will do anything to get your van, .. might thought would be to chase after them but, reality says stay in bed and claim insurance.

 

[Grey13]

Am I going crazy or is all this talk about leaving motor mover's engaged for security academic. The OP started explaining that notwithstanding ALL HIS SECURITY in minutes the van was gone. So if they come prepared with gas cutting equipment and other thief accessories / tools, why on earth would they not come with a simple spanner lever and just open it themselves? Just asking! IMO if they want to steal it they will! QED

 

[Craigyoung]

Am I going crazy or is all this talk about leaving motor mover's engaged for security academic. The OP started explaining that notwithstanding ALL HIS SECURITY in minutes the van was gone. So if they come prepared with gas cutting equipment and other thief accessories / tools, why on earth would they not come with a simple spanner lever and just open it themselves? Just asking! IMO if they want to steal it they will! QED

Ha !! Good point !!

 

[outdoors]

Friday lunchtime Dec 14th 2001, our 3 month old T.E.C. caravan was stolen from the front of our house, using cutting gear. One guy turns up in an old Shogun " Door knocking ", nobody in, on the mobile to scumbags parked up the road, reverse down drive, the porta pack gas was probably already lit and in minutes gone. Police turned up at 4-00pm Sunday afternoon. " Don't worry it's an insured item ". It ain't when the insurance companies send you new premiums !
Happy caravanning.
NB : We did not let them get us down, enjoyed four more T.E.C's a Giest and 3 Hymers since.

 

[Raywood]

I think you do have to understand that there are two types of thief. There are those who target a specific make and model or general type, usually high spec large twin axle models but almost always high spec and the opportunists who will take almost anything provided it is an easy target.
The first group are generally well prepared and will overcome most obstacles and in most cases there is very little you can do but make it as difficult as possible for them. The most effective defence against them is probably to remove all the seating and leave the curtains open so they can see this. It makes the caravan unusable in its current state and buying another set is too risky and if a similar caravan has these in place you might as well steal that. Leaving the curtains open with nothing inside is also a good defence against break ins.
Good wheel clamps and the like are generally effective against the opportunist thieves who just want something that can be stolen easily and quickly with a minimum of effort.
I am afraid that theft is a fact of life in everything we do, and caravans are no different, so you just have to live with the threat and get on with your life. This is not to downplay the effects if it happens to you though.

 

[outdoors]

I'd suggest they'll take anything, noting some big twin axles on certain illegal sites there will be at least one of Uk make, these are " sheds " the inside is ripped out and fitted with a domestic stainless sink, a domestic oven/hob ( washroom and cookhouse ) saves using their own.

 

[Bobster999]

Yea but mine was an auto engage and must have engaged at some point locking the wheels (maybe a short circuit ) that’s why it was dumped 2 miles away. The auto engage ones can be disengaged but it’s fiddly takes time and requires a specialist tool.

 

[otherclive]

Yea but mine was an auto engage and must have engaged at some point locking the wheels (maybe a short circuit ) that’s why it was dumped 2 miles away. The auto engage ones can be disengaged but it’s fiddly takes time and requires a specialist tool.

If you adapt a power drill tool you can simulate the “emergency” hand winding tool on the Powertouch Evolution. It takes mere seconds to wind the rollers back or forth. I did it for my last caravan as the electrical actuation was iffy and I required back up too often for my liking. I’ve now gone back to manual actuation.

 

[FrintonMike]

I always understood that leaving the rollers engaged on the tyres was a no as over time the tyres would distort

 

[Dustydog]

I’m with Ray bar the curtains. Sunlight damage may be worse than a potential theft
Some years ago , I can’ t find it now, a forum its had his stolen from back garden which was blocked all round. The Scum used a mobile crane and low loader.
IMO, trust me, if it’s nicked , pray it is not recovered and you get your new for old settlement from the insurer B)

 

[Hutch]

Yes just increased my new for old £25 k to £28 extra £40 . With C and Cc. . Doesen't include wife though.

 

[PHOENIXFLIER]

We dont bother with any security. Just take the wheels off and leave on axle stands. Good luck if they want to tow that away in a hurry.

 

[outdoors]

We dont bother with any security. Just take the wheels off and leave on axle stands. Good luck if they want to tow that away in a hurry.

Do we really believe they don't carry spare wheels ( just a look when passing with these guys will determine which type of wheel ) and is your insurance valid without wheel and hitchlocks ?

 

[Craigyoung]

For the less than 10 minutes it takes me to take my wheel lock off and hitch lock off I couldn't be bothered to carry around two wheels and put them on & off for each trip . I've barely got enough room in the boot as it is to get the stuff in for weekend away with the two kids never mind putting two wheels in the boot . :blink:

 

[JanBn]

So sorry to hear about this awful experience I can only imagine how you felt having your pride and joy stolen and destroyed like this, especially after all the security you had on it

I really hope you were able to replace it and won't let this awful experience of mindless scumbags spoil your future adventures :dry:

Just going through the trauma of having to replace a stolen van
I was amazed at how easily and quickly the last van was stolen

Van was stored on a working farm on what In believed was a reasonably secure compound surrounded by a moat on three sides and a ditch on the 4th side with access through 2 barriers and the farm required

Scumbags broke through 3 locked gates and drove across three fields and one ditch to get into compound from the rear

Alarm and tracker activated at 4.15 am at 4.17 tracker signaled loss of power to van but tracker was still signaling that it was stationary

At 4.45 arrived at site van gone

2 alko wheel locks removed by cutting receivers off chassis with gas

Hitch lock cut off again with gas corner steady locks broken off

Alarm and tracker ripped out

Van was recovered 2 miles away in the middle of a field the motor mover had hit something and locked up the wheels making it impossible to continue towing

With hindsight I was lucky they were away when my son and I arrived otherwise there might have been a problem.

So it appears that it doesn’t matter what security you have if they want it they will take it

The best security appears to be having an auto motor mover and leaving it on the wheels as this did stop them dead in there tracks but this would most likely damage the tyres

 

[Raywood]

I’m with Ray bar the curtains. Sunlight damage may be worse than a potential theft
Some years ago , I can’ t find it now, a forum its had his stolen from back garden which was blocked all round. The Scum used a mobile crane and low loader.
IMO, trust me, if it’s nicked , pray it is not recovered and you get your new for old settlement from the insurer B)

We do leave the curtains open to try and show there is nothing to steal inside. We have not had a problem with fading but then again in Scotland sunshine can be in short supply. Having the curtains open does give you a bit of heat in cold weather which cannot be bad.
If you want to see how quick the professionals are watch this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWBB3s1wXkE
It is now quite old but it shows just how quickly it can be done.

 

[Gabsgrandad]

Why are we such 'wimps' when it comes to punishing these perpetrators when caught? Just come across this in Motor Cycle News, what sort of scum are these.? (Oh sorry they are misunderstood, had it tough, illiterate, on drugs, wont work, etc. All my fault!)

 

[otherclive]

I’m with Ray bar the curtains. Sunlight damage may be worse than a potential theft
Some years ago , I can’ t find it now, a forum its had his stolen from back garden which was blocked all round. The Scum used a mobile crane and low loader.
IMO, trust me, if it’s nicked , pray it is not recovered and you get your new for old settlement from the insurer B)

We do leave the curtains open to try and show there is nothing to steal inside. We have not had a problem with fading but then again in Scotland sunshine can be in short supply. Having the curtains open does give you a bit of heat in cold weather which cannot be bad.
If you want to see how quick the professionals are watch this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWBB3s1wXkE
It is now quite old but it shows just how quickly it can be done.

Thanks that's quite interesting. The alarm was silenced very quickly, and the van arrived with its number plate towards the camera. But on the video it wasn't able to be read. Whether that was through editing the video (to protect privacy of thieves) or just another poor CCTV set up. The other thing that most of us know already is just how quickly wheel, hitch and secure posts can be cut away. Overall the expense of the CCTV system wasn't money well spent. Geese might have been more effective!

 

[Brian_374234561]

Our van is stored at home and we have an alarm on the house, so I've put one of the house alarm pir sensors in the van as a separate 'zone' so if it is broken into, the house alarm goes off and it's all monitored.
As you say though, if they want it, they'll take it so as long as nobody in my family is threatened and I don't get a trashed caravan back, let them crack on. There's only so much you can do!

 

[Raywood]

A good idea if they are looking to steal from the caravan, but in many cases the thieves will steal a caravan, but not enter it, so the alarm will not be activated.

 

[PHOENIXFLIER]

For the less than 10 minutes it takes me to take my wheel lock off and hitch lock off I couldn't be bothered to carry around two wheels and put them on & off for each trip . I've barely got enough room in the boot as it is to get the stuff in for weekend away with the two kids never mind putting two wheels in the boot . :blink:

Maybe I should have elucidated. The wheels are only removed when we are at home. I have got a windy gun and pneumatic jack pads, so the whole exercise is a doddle. On site same precautions everybody else.

 

[Brian_374234561]

It does go off if the sensor is moved as I found out by accident when I towed the caravan off the drive with the house sensor inside, then the house alarm went off. The alarm knows if the pir sensor is moved. Clever stuff!