Motorhome theft; how do the numbers look?

[CustomBuild]

I’m wondering if all motorhomes are stolen from outside the owners home or do the majority go missing from paid storage facilities? How many are stolen from a campsite during the day, how many disappear from a supermarket car park or are taken from the side of the road at some random place.

Is the biggest risk by far when the MH is unattended during the night or might you set off on a trip and find yourself taking the train back home?

And is the EU any better or worse? What should you avoid doing if you really want to keep your vehicle and not have some low life take it for themselves?

 

[meanders]

The low life will take any opportunity. I don't think there are any statistics such as you seek, but I think I have seen reports on here of all of those with the exception that I do not recollect anyone losing one while pitched on a site. I know a few caravans have been taken when left for the day though.

You can only do so much to make your van less attractive to the next one, but if it's yours they want ......

 

[Brains]

One of the reasons certain makes and models 'disappear' is for spares and repairs.

Ford Transit based motorhomes and charity minibuses are particularly vulnerable, as the thieves know they will be older models, well maintained, and have very low milage.

They don't care that your £20,000 vehicle is stripped for £200 worth of parts.
They crush what they can't sell.
(A mate had a car stolen, all they wanted was the bonnet lid and the front bumper, Police recovered it, but it was a write off due to other damage)

I think thefts of more modern complete motorhomes for onward use would be fairly rare, as you have to go through the 'ringing' process, and unlike high value cars, there is no big demand in West Africa for motorhomes.

 

[Vanman]

As said above, I don't think you'll find definitive info like that. Having been on here for 7 or 8 years my gut feeling is that the majority are stolen from peoples houses. Putting false plates on them and driving them to a ferry seems to be a strong favorite, or hiding them for a few days to see if there's a tracker. For a while Fords were very popular as the front door locks were easy to break.

 

[CAB96]

From reading here a couple of years:

Touring = theft FROM Motorhome.

At home = theft OF Motorhome.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[AJM2]

Where’s the deterrent?
Three men sentenced for motorhome thefts https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cly563zg5w0o

 

[Lenny HB]

Where’s the deterrent?
Three men sentenced for motorhome thefts https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cly563zg5w0o

I saw that this morning pathetic sentences.

Put into perspective the amout of Motorhomes stolen is very minimal compared to cars.

 

[cyberyacht]

There are also a lot more cars and, probably, easier to sell on.

 

[eddie]

Very few motorhomes are actually stolen.

In fact the majority of ALL vehicle crime is theft from the vehicle not of the vehicle. With motorhomes that figure is even higher, as modern motorhomes are not typically targeted for secondary crime purposes.

Ram raiding the local off licence, or as a getaway car is out! Joyriding? we may enjoy driving our motorhomes but to turn up at Hollywood Bowl to drag race your mates will get you seriously "dissed" but would enjoy a piece of cake and a cup of tea

However you are more likely to be targeted by casual, opportunistic, spur of the moment crime and that we can deter in the first place and make distantly uncomfortable if they enter the motorhome.

Stupidity aside, very few vans are stolen when travelling, it’s easier to steal from a compound or from some one’s home, more time and more controllable.

Older vans are much easier to steal and easier to sell “No questions asked” handing over a few grand for a camper, telling yourself that the nice young man’s story about being given the camper by his great aunt to sell to raise funds to go to back to college, but sadly she died before he could get she paperwork, is entirely believable is one thing, but paying over tens of thousand in cash, makes even the most gullible a bit more weary about the “nice man’s story”

 

[CustomBuild]

Very few motorhomes are actually stolen.

I’m going to go with eddie's comment, it makes me feel better

I’ve always lived in fear of having my house broken into, but never have even though I know many friends that have not been so fortunate. Most were back in the day when the telly or VHS player went missing in the night.

Having read other threads, I guess I’ll just look at beefing up the door locks and adding some kind of DIY immobiliser.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Montezuma]

An example of theft which I posted in another thread.

Security Paranoia?

The end of the day we shouldn't have to secure are vehicles, manufactures such as Ford have the ability to make vehicles virtually theft proof. The only way any vehicle should be stolen is on the back of a transporter

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

If a thief wants your vehicle he will inevitably get it.

 

[MisterB]

Where’s the deterrent?
Three men sentenced for motorhome thefts https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cly563zg5w0o

I've tried looking, but there doesn't seem to be one, yet if they had stolen cash to that amount I wonder if the sentences would have been so lenient ...

 

[TinaLes]

Crumbs Chobham Village is just up the road from us, and 2 of the crooks are living in the next town Woking in Surrey.
Now I have to mention that over the past 4/6 weeks, I have had three separate knock on my door from 2 men, and one woman, all with that distinct Irish accent, asking me if I want to sell our van, "I will give you a good price, more than the dealers will"
One of the guys looked legit as he was wearing a Motor Home/Camper Van company sweatshirt and was driving something expensive I remember.
Even having said NO, thanks we love our van, its our only escape these days, they still try and swing me.
I did get frustrated with the dealer lookalike as he was too keen, and didnt listen to me saying NO, so I asked him how much do you think that van of mine costs new? No response other than "they have gone down recently" I said maybe true as dealer stocks have risen, but not on new prices.
I felt I had to mention the extra 3 grand cost on fitting a super alarm system with non start function, plus a full time GPS tracker linked to the police and visible location on my mobile phone, plus the other visible bits like steering wheel lock, and front drivers seat locked backwards.
They went away haven't seen them since, but very strangely the alarm went off last night 2.30AM, went out with torch no one about, but will check the van later for alarm fault code if any.
LES

 

[Two Rivers]

I've heard of Caravans being hooked up and taken from UK motorway services Thankfully, not heard of any Motorhomes going missing at motorway services here in the UK, someone may prove me wrong?