Tracker leads police to a haul of stolen assets including a caravan, Land Rover Discovery and a horse box

A Swift Archway caravan that was stolen from Bedfordshire was the unwitting hero in locating and recovering a haul of stolen assets, thanks to its owners fitting it with a stolen vehicle recovery solution from Tracker.  The caravan, worth £16,000, was recovered from Gamlingay a rural village in South Cambridgeshire, in less than 4 hours from being reported as stolen, by the Cambridgeshire Constabulary Rural Crime Action Team.  Fatefully, keeping the caravan company was a stolen Land Rover Discovery which had been stolen from the same county, a horse box stolen from Hertfordshire and a range of stolen tools.

DC Tom Nuttall from the Cambridgeshire Constabulary Rural Crime Action Team said: “We were informed that the stolen caravan had a Tracker device fitted. Using the guidance from the team of experts at Tracker HQ and our on-board vehicle equipment, we were able to locate the stolen caravan in just under four hours from the time it was reported as stolen.

“Investing in a tracking device or a similar location identifier and other crime prevention measures to protect your caravan is invaluable to keep it in your own possession. If the Tracker device had not been fitted in this stolen caravan, the owner may have never got it back.”

Caravans are a popular choice for organised crime groups who often steal to order, to meet demand in the UK and across Europe, selling the caravans for huge profits. Last year Tracker recovered over £1 million pounds worth of stolen caravans and motorhomes.

Clive Wain, Head of Police Liaison for Tracker, commented: “This was a very successful joint recovery with Cambridgeshire Constabulary Rural Crime Action Team. Not only did we find the caravan but also the additional vehicles, which was only possible due to the tracker unit on the caravan. Caravans are extremely lucrative for criminals and can be relatively easy to steal if they are not properly protected. Physical deterrents such as secure storage facilities, hitch locks, wheel clamps, alarm systems and deadbolts will reduce the chance of theft, but only a tracking device and VIN CHIP Identification System will improve the chance of recovery if criminals get past these barriers.”

Tracker’s Caravan Security Tips

• Fit security posts or a substantial gate if parking the caravan on your drive.
• Be sure to security mark the caravan.
• 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 from the caravan.
• Do not leave registration documents in the caravan as they can help thieves sell it on.
• Always close and lock doors and windows when you leave your caravan, even if it’s just for a short time.
• When planning for the next storage season, choose a site with good security rather than just a good price.
• Fit a Tracker device to increase the chance of recovery in the event of theft.
• Retro fit a unique Identification System to your caravan, if VIN CHIP did not come as standard on your caravan