Going, going, almost gone!

Thieves who went to extraordinary lengths to steal an Elddis Camino Tourer caravan from the Stourbridge area, overlooked an all-important security detail – a tracking device. When the owners discovered the caravan was missing, they immediately alerted Cheshire police, and together with stolen vehicle recovery expert, Tracker Network (UK) Ltd, they located the caravan close to Ellesmere Port within 2 hours.

The thieves removed a padlock on a gate to gain entry to the secure storage site where the caravan was kept, then went to work on two locking wheel nuts and a hitch lock, disarmed the alarm and towed the caravan across a recently harvested field to exit through a gap in the hedge they had made earlier.

Clive Wain, Head of Police Liaison at Tracker commented, “We have seen too many cases where professional criminals have been able to quickly cut through barriers, locks and other physical deterrents. 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 will improve the chances of recovery if criminals get past these barriers.”

The owner of the caravan Mr Chuter commented, "I was alerted to the disappearance of my caravan by the owners of the storage facility five hours after the event but within minutes of me informing Tracker, the van was located and a roadblock set up by Cheshire Police and my caravan recovered. Tracker was fantastic and kept me up to speed every step of the way. I cannot thank them enough and would urge everyone to fit this type of device to anything which moves. I am so grateful.”

The Tracker Mesh Network played a vital role in recovering this stolen Elddis caravan. The Mesh Network takes advantage of other vehicles on the road that are already fitted with a Tracker device to relay information about a stolen vehicle that is equipped with Tracker’s same technology, to create a UK wide network of ‘listening vehicles’ which can help pinpoint the location of a stolen vehicle. 

Clive Wain explains, “When we activated the tracking device on the caravan, we had a call from Cheshire Police who sprang into action. At almost the same time our Mesh Network alerted us that it had picked up a signal from the stolen caravan. Another Mesh signal soon alerted the police that the caravan was on the move. We helped them follow it for nearly 30 miles from near Holmes Chapel, up the M6 then down the M56, finally catching up just east of Ellesmere Port. Two people were apprehended.”

When buying a second-hand caravan from a dealer or even privately, check to see if it has a Tracker fitted. It will only take a phone call to pay a subscription fee which will mean your caravan is protected should the worst happen and it is stolen.  Tracker is the only SVR provider offering vehicle tracking systems that are supported nationwide by UK police forces. Tracker’s SVR solutions work like an electronic homing device with a covert transmitter hidden in one of several dozen places around the vehicle. There is no visible aerial, so the thief will not know it’s there. 

Tracker’s Caravan Security Tips

• Be sure to security mark the caravan with a VIN CHIP Identification System.
• 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 planning for the 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.