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Quote: Originally posted by langsettdave on 28/4/2021

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on the 18th of May our Elddis Ranger 20/4 ( 2013 ) was stolen from relatively insecure storage, whoever stole it travelled thro fields, cutting chains and padlocks and trees to steal 2 vans- ours which was insured new for old and another uninsured. The site was a remote farm with only one route into the storage area or so we thought - I must point out here that until 3 yrs ago we lived on the farm as I worked there and we all thought that the route taken was unusable where they came into the storage area as we had trouble negotiating with tractors at times as it was a feeding area for cattle and so obviously churned up - but no they got in removed the wheel clamp, leg locks and leg alarms possibly overcoming the alarm and either managed to remove the Robstop hitchlock or used a ratchet strap to hook up to the towing vehicles which were seen travelling down the farm lane in the daytime , they were ignored as some of the units were coming and going. It's not the property we shall miss but the irreplaceable memories and " trinkets " - we have a new van reserved subject to the insurance company paying out

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Quote: Originally posted by Colin21 on 28/4/2021

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This was presumably May last year, langsettdave. You have my sympathy.

It does however illustrate what I have said many times about security devices. They are at best a deterrent, and will only ever deter the casual thief which is why often a cheap one can be every bit as good as the most expensive one. If someone is determined to steal a particular caravan or car, and comes equipped to do so, they will laugh at even the most elaborate and expensive security devices.

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Quote: Originally posted by Mick S. on 01/5/2021

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Quote: Originally posted by Colin21 on 28/4/2021

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This was presumably May last year, langsettdave. You have my sympathy.

It does however illustrate what I have said many times about security devices. They are at best a deterrent, and will only ever deter the casual thief which is why often a cheap one can be every bit as good as the most expensive one. If someone is determined to steal a particular caravan or car, and comes equipped to do so, they will laugh at even the most elaborate and expensive security devices.

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Why would you report something a year later? Unless it was 18th April it was swiped? I still read a very similar post, all the same. Just shows; if someone really wants your 'van, they will take it.

As an aside, has anyone ever heard of a 'van being stolen from one of the club sites in the UK, ever?

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Quote: Originally posted by Monty15 on 01/5/2021

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Quote: Originally posted by Mick S. on 01/5/2021

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Quote: Originally posted by Colin21 on 28/4/2021

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This was presumably May last year, langsettdave. You have my sympathy.

It does however illustrate what I have said many times about security devices. They are at best a deterrent, and will only ever deter the casual thief which is why often a cheap one can be every bit as good as the most expensive one. If someone is determined to steal a particular caravan or car, and comes equipped to do so, they will laugh at even the most elaborate and expensive security devices.

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Why would you report something a year later? Unless it was 18th April it was swiped? I still read a very similar post, all the same. Just shows; if someone really wants your 'van, they will take it.

As an aside, has anyone ever heard of a 'van being stolen from one of the club sites in the UK, ever?

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Oh yes! Maybe 3 years back now, a Hobby (not new, not fancy, not of 'great' worth, circa sub £20k maybe!) was stolen from the very secure club storage site where my van is stored. The thieves went to extraordinary lengths to steal this very specific van, they had obviously done their homework on both the storage site and security devices on this van. They gained access down a green lane beside the site, cut a section of tough steel palisade fencing out to gain entry to compound, removed the wheel locks from van, replaced the tow hitch with their own to overcome hitch lock (original hitch with lock intact was left behind!), broke open the site card/time controlled drop arm barrier AND the multiple padlocked locked gates to exit, then forced their way off the general site through the card controlled drop arm barrier. The last part was all done under scrutiny of CCTV, but because it was in the early hours and they were so quick after the alarm went up, the site wardens didn't have time to react before the thieves were virtually off the site. Police said three other Hobbys had been stolen on the same night in the general area! - no need to expand on the most likely culprits! AFAIK the van was never recovered!

It wasn't too long after I first got my van, and I'd gone to some lengths to find what appeared to be a good secure site, high security fencing, card and limited time access compound, wardens always on site and normal access covered by CCTV, didn't seem to be much more that could have been done. Insurers felt is was secure enough to give hefty discount. But clearly not enough to stop the determined thief! Somewhere around 500 storage pitches on site, and it's the only incident that I'm aware of, so I don't consider it a high risk location, even after the outrageous theft.

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Quote: Originally posted by barryj77071www on 06/11/2023

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23/24 /9/2023 Our 2021 Coachman Laser excel vouge With Full Contents. Was Stolen From A Camp Site Storage Compound in Ipplepen , Newton Abbot , Devon
If you or any one you know or hear of a Caravan Being stolen or Sold Being offered cheap and of this Description , contact Police

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