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Another reason for me to change my caravan for a motorhome, I think!

Although I do try, it isn't always possible to leave anyone with the van whilst I go into the services, other than the dog who isn't allowed in them so has to stay in the car. I don't have a wheelclamp 'cos I couldn't find one to fit that was light enough for me to put on, being a weak and feeble old lady.

But I hope they wouldn't be very interested in my little old van.

We did come back to the van once a few years back to find someone had put the handbrake on and wondered if they'd been trying to nick it and been disturbed - possibly by the dog barking at them?

Quote: Originally posted by john and tracy on 07/8/2009

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sumthing we never do is leave the van unattended,we always take it turns to do toliet runs,all the girls together then father and son we also take our own food and drinks so we can just sit at the side of car have sumthing.oh always as the fear of leaving the van unattened and returning to see it has gone.

tracy

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My little van is probably of no use to our traveller friends other than as a possible hot dog van/ or a pup caravan ?. Its too small. But I do travel a lot by myself and never use the Service station toilets. Why should I when Ive got my own onboard toilet. Also Im a tight git who hates paying motorway prices for a small coffee or cardboard sandwich. But I still have to walk the dogs & thats when I put on the wheel clamp and hitch lock and try and keep the van in sight. But this post has made me think that of a few occasions when Ive been sat in the van and a friendly person has come up and looked in just to have a chat. But were they interested in something else? But I will try not to get paranoid and carry on just taking sensible precautions.

What would be interesting is to know the type and age range that is mostly targeted. Are people wanting to steal older / smaller vans ? Do vans with tracker built in tend to get recovered quickly? & when are we going to reintroduce hanging and birching. I could do with a job.

I wonder how many caravans are "stolen" directly or indirectly by their owners so that they can claim on their insurance and get a new van under the replace with new feature of caravan insurances.

Come to think of it, what an effective and easy way of curing that damp problem....

Quote: Originally posted by susanita on 09/8/2009

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Again, I reiterate...How many vans actually get stolen and in what circumstances? It is just too easy to make bold assertions.
Do not twist my words because you do not like what I have to say. For information the number of touring caravans registered in the UK tops the half million, if 1400 are stolen each year that makes 0.00028%, if you then calculate again using number of caravans by numbers of journies made, which would probably account for 3 or 4 million outings per year, then it is negligible.

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Quote: A further point. Where do all these caravans go? I am certain they are not all stolen to provide homes for travellers and their stolen dogs! They are being sold to someone;whilst there are buyers who will not ask too many questions or do too many checks, caravans will be stolen.

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Quote: Originally posted by freeatlast on 09/8/2009

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I wonder how many caravans are "stolen" directly or indirectly by their owners so that they can claim on their insurance and get a new van under the replace with new feature of caravan insurances.

Come to think of it, what an effective and easy way of curing that damp problem....<IMG border=0 align=absMiddle src="https://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/chatter/forum_images/smiley15.gif" alt=17>

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Quote: Originally posted by susanita on 09/8/2009

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Again, I reiterate...How many vans actually get stolen and in what circumstances? It is just too easy to make bold assertions.
Do not twist my words because you do not like what I have to say. For information the number of touring caravans registered in the UK tops the half million, if 1400 are stolen each year that makes 0.00028%, if you then calculate again using number of caravans by numbers of journies made, which would probably account for 3 or 4 million outings per year, then it is negligible.
I agree, not if it is YOUR caravan, but hey life is a risk, there are no guarantees. There are people on this post who seems to be making their lives a misery over something that is unlikely to happen. Chill out and enjoy your holiday.
A further point. Where do all these caravans go? I am certain they are not all stolen to provide homes for travellers and their stolen dogs!
They are being sold to someone;whilst there are buyers who will not ask too many questions or do too many checks, caravans will be stolen.

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I don't think anyone is "making their lives a misery", its a forum, and people are discussing an issue, that by the way is what they do on a forum!

What I don't understand quite frankly, is why you bother to post if, as you have stated, its all scaremongering and we need to "chill out!.

With respect, I think perhaps its time you "chilled out" when you make accusations of "twisting words"!

I find the number of 500,000 registeredf vans curious, because the Caravan Club alone has one million members, and even allowing for couples, there is also the C&CC, and a great many more who are not members of either.

Goweray wrote:

I, the original poster of this thread, posted a news item. Not a rumour to start scaremongering, a fact. A reminder of how easy these things happen and how we should always be aware. I am sorry I posted it now and I wonder just what exactly you can put on here that won't degenerate into a slanging match. That said, I don't think I'll bother starting off any more threads for fear of more of the same. Chills pills? There's an untapped market out there.
     Percentages? Three too many zeros on the one given here. Oops! Another fact up for debate

There were several readers of the comments made on this thread Goweray who were not previously aware of the possibility of vans being stolen at Service Stations and who now are aware and will, hopefully, not loose theirs through ignorance of the risks. Thank you.

I always think forewarned is forearmed so I read threads that warn us of possible problems and take heed of them.  It is a sad reflection on society that we need to be this vigilant but even if the statistics show that it is a very few vans get stolen, yours could be one of them and if being, as some may feel, paranoid or over fussy so be it.

Sad to see criticisms of the police force, they do a hard job and I think are not helped by being underfunded, but that is another story.

Hope none of us have our caravans taken, carry on clamping (camping)

Carol

Not from M'way Services... but...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2M62f8phLc

I saw this on The Caravan Channel.. it made my blood boil, and I have even bought my Bailey Ranger yet!!!!