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I have to pass comment on these reports. 

We've just 'upgraded' from Folding Camper to caravan.  It seems the upgrade has put us at greater risk of theft!  Logic dictates that there are more folk who haven't had this horrible experience than those who have.  We know that it would be nigh on impossible to steal the van from our storage place - because the area is all but too small to manoeuvre the van in and because of the other antitheft devices we have installed.  I am more concerned that thefts of caravans occur when you are away and that there are sites which don't keep a more watchful eye on people's coming and going.  What anti-theft devices do you use while away?  The hitchlock is a given and a wheel clamp and the steady locks and we have an alarm - for goodness sake what more needs to be done?

As an ex-bobby my OH is painful when it comes to locking things up and we take it in shifts to go into services on the motorway!  Surely this is enough???

Quote: Originally posted by Pennine Plodder on 24/3/2006

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I understand your feelings Vic - and although we've insured the caravan at current market value, the cost doesn't seem that much more than the camper did.  The service - which is only sensible is £140 and insurance is £250.  We don't pay for storage as we keep it at home. The cost has not risen so much and caravanning/camping still gives us cheap holidays and we can afford to go off more often and stay longer.

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As an ex-bobby my OH is painful when it comes to locking things up and we take it in shifts to go into services on the motorway!  Surely this is enough???

we dont leave ours now,we take butties and flask and go to the loo in turn so that the unit is not left unattended at any one time

We like Michael never leave it unattended at services, but its surprising how many do. I dont suppose thieves want our 15 year old Swift anyway when they can have the pick of lots of newer ones.

Regards Robin 

    The couple were on the local TV news last night ....she was in tears it was also their home ...it was a twin axel Burstner ...they had sold a house in Brighton and their dream was to live and tour in this caravan .....They had a transit van for their tow vehicle and ended up sleeping in that with the labrador .... The site was near Lyndhurst. Hampshire Police said a number of vans had been stolen from the New Forrest ....they were questioning one man about a caravan theft but not the Burstner.....they had hitch lock...wheel lock on the awning side ....and the two wheels chained together on the other side .....Police thought it has removed in 10 minutes....poor woman had recently lost her mum and the jewelry she was left was also in the van with credit cards ..check books  share certificates ..passports etc...everything ...this happened while they had gone to Wimborne to the market.

Sounds  to me that they have been watched and the caravan targeted .It had a b lue stripe down the sides ...great loooking  live in van .......dont know what they else they could have done to prevent it going except take the  wheels off and cart them round with them !!!

Seems to me one of the best deterrents may be to put an awning up even for a weekend, that would make it take longer for them to get the van and possibly get caught. Another idea is for all of us just to be aware of the tow vehicle that arrives with the van on the next pitch if a different one turns up advise site security for them to stop and check that it is the owner? A bit like 'neighbourhood watch' for each other.

Quote: Originally posted by blackrat on 23/3/2006

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I wouldn't waste my hard earned on tracker, it's not all it's cracked up to be. There's a simple device thieves can use to disable the signal. There can be a considerable time delay between information from their control being passed to Police for them to locate the stolen vehicle. I do everything possible to stop it being stolen in the first place but once the vans been stolen by the scumbags I wouldn't want it back.  I'd have a new one on the new for old insurance.

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Would you like to elaborate on this "simple device"?  Our tracker works via satellites, much like the mobile phone network, and I've yet to hear of a story whereby a simple device has knocked out the phones. 

Jenny

Motor mover on and locked, hitch lock in place, the caravan alarm activated which includes a vibration and tilt sensor with

hi dont leave the mover on it will damage the tyres due to the pressure