Caravan Security Tips as Caravan & motorhome thefts up in 2020; Set to continue….
Tracker urges owners to be extra vigilant and safeguard caravans as lockdown ends
Stolen vehicle recovery (SVR) experts Tracker had confirmed that not only did caravan and motorhome thefts rise year-on-year in 2020, but they also increased by a staggering 50% in the weeks following periods of lockdown. As the latest lockdown formally comes to an end, Tracker is urging caravan owners to take extra precautions to safeguard their vehicles as thieves make up for lost time.
Last year Tracker recovered over one million pounds worth of stolen caravans and motorhomes. The most valuable leisure vehicle recovered was a £45,000 2017 Elddis Encore motorhome and the most valuable stolen caravan recovered was a Coachman VIP worth £33,400. Tracker’s data shows the Elddis Avante, Swift Challenger and Swift Escape caravan models were also very popular among thieves.
Clive Wain, Head of Police Liaison at Tracker commented, “Professional criminals are quick to cut through barriers, locks, and other physical deterrents to steal in seconds valuable vehicles parked on driveways. Caravans and motorhomes locked up in storage facilities, even premium sites which boast top of the range security measures, are also being targeted.”
In recent weeks there have been a spate of caravan and motorhome thefts across the UK, with police forces from Lancashire, Yorkshire, West Midlands and Nottinghamshire appealing for homeowners to check night-time CCTV footage for sightings of caravans being towed which could help identify thieves. Thankfully, caravan owners who have invested in a Tracker benefit from it being the only stolen vehicle recovery offering that is supported nationwide by UK police forces. Tracker’s detection units are exclusively fitted in over 2000 police patrol vehicles and throughout the national fleet of Police helicopters that comprise the National Police Air Service (NPAS).
Continues Clive Wain, “We recently recovered a Swift Conqueror caravan worth £18k, that was reported stolen from a property in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire. As it was a windy night, the owners didn’t hear the criminals at large and it wasn’t until the following morning, they realised their caravan had been taken. Fortunately, in a multi force collaboration with Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire police, in just 24 hours, we were able to assist with the recovery of the caravan, which was found in Retford, Nottinghamshire. Thankfully, the only items that were missing were a kettle, toaster and TV.”
Tracker’s unique VHF technology makes its units resistant to GPS/GSM jamming and enables the police to pinpoint a stolen vehicle, which makes it particularly valuable for detecting assets hidden in containers at major UK seaports. Add to this the unique Tracker Mesh network, and the chance of recovering a stolen vehicle are greatly increased. When a vehicle fitted with a Tracker unit passes any Tracker equipped vehicle that has been reported stolen, the unique Mesh Network automatically sends a signal to Tracker’s Head Quarters and the police, providing the location of the stolen asset.
“Lockdown restrictions are well and truly easing, and understandably people are desperate to take a break away from home. However, it is vital owners invest in the best possible peace of mind when it comes to security,” concludes Clive Wain. “Fitting a Tracker and ensuring subscriptions for an existing Tracker is up to date, won’t stop a caravan or motorhome from being stolen, but it will significantly increase the chances of it being returned quickly to its rightful owner.”
Tracker’s Caravan Security Tips
- Fit security posts or a substantial gate if parking the caravan on your drive, or if storing elsewhere choose a site with good security rather than just a good price.
- Security mark the caravan if it is not already done, and mark valuables and interior fitments inside the caravan with your postcode using an etching tool or engraver.
- Fit physical deterrents such as hitch locks, wheel clamps and deadlocks on doors to make it difficult for thieves.
- Remove all valuables and registration documents from the caravan.
- Fit a Tracker device to increase the chance of recovery in the event of theft.
Tracker stolen vehicle recovery solutions work like an electronic homing device. A covert transmitter is hidden in one of several dozen places around the vehicle. There is no visible aerial, so the thief won’t know it’s there.
