No s##t Sherlock....... (1 Viewer)

[Decaf]

Fellow Funsters, let me first apologise. I appreciate that this issue strictly speaking is not MH stuff, but as there are a few ex caravanners about I thought it may be of general interest to a few.
If nothing else, this has decided for us what we should do with our caravan now that we've bought a motor-home.

This week our 2012 Swift Conqueror 570 caravan was stolen from farm storage overnight near our house, and we are gutted.
It was alarmed, it has been CRiS chipped, it had an Al-Ko Gold Secure Hitch Lock and an Al-Ko Diamond Secure Wheel lock.

The hitch lock was merely jemmied off intact, but the wheel lock had been removed by heating the chassis housing and just pulling it off with the barrel and lock intact.
Safe to say, a pre-planned and determined theft me thinks Sherlock........

Once released from its shackles the van was towed 200 yards across a crop field onto a lane and gone. Sadly, all this took place 50 yds from the farmhouse.

I'm just waiting for a jobsworth to insist that its impossible to get an Al-Ko wheel lock off without keys, well here's the proof.

 

[PP Bear]

Wow, you couldn't have done much more to secure it, other than mine the surrounding area!!!

Sorry to hear of the theft.

 

[Badknee]

I'm afraid the old saying is very true, sad and annoying but true. If some bastard wants something bad enough there's not much will stop them!
They will have practiced and practised till it can be done in minutes. Battery operated angle grinders but if too noisy it seems they have moved up to gas cutting gear.
We have recently had a tracker fitted so that if the manage to take our moho (Strikeback Growler) we can see where it is at least to help the police.

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[olley]

Not if the fit a GPS/phone blocker

 

[Podney]

But I’m sure the police are hunting high and low,going to all their known contacts and dropping in on the Itinerant sites. Well maybe not the last one cos they are shit scared of them.

 

[Feltwell]

Someone clearly knew exactly what they were doing and really wanted your van, a professional theft. There's only so much you can do to put thieves off, sounds like you did all you could....

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[Jaws]

Jeeez... Looks like they used a thermal lance on the thing.. Shocking that a 'sold secure' lock should be made of monkey metal

 

[Missfiter]

I'm amazed to see that, sorry your caravan has been stolen, although seeing your pictures has put my mind at rest we had our caravan stolen a few years ago out of storage and again ours was pre-planned as it was gone within 10mins, I was convinced if I had not got frustrated having to line up the alko lock each time we bought back so bought a milenco lock to replace it( pure laziness really) it would never have been stolen but clearly it could have been. The only saving grace was we had a tracker so it was picked 30 mins later

 

[big map]

Im sorry for the theft of your caravan. Have you sent a report and the photos to Sold Secure for comment?

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[KathleenW]

Sorry for your loss. What's wrong with these people? I can remember when we didn't have to lock our doors.

 

[Decaf]

Im sorry for the theft of your caravan. Have you sent a report and the photos to Sold Secure for comment?

Yes, I've emailed AL-Ko, though I don't expect that our's is the first time for this heating method.

 

[tacr2man]

I lost a twin axle that had a wheel clamp in each axle , and a hitch lock , and hardened chain on a steel 5 bar gate with welded down hinges . cris registered and etched, also with roof postcode , never seen again .

The worst part was they took all my old washing machines and copper tanks I had been collecting !!!!

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[Head Gardener]

Really sorry to read of your theft, as everyone has said, clearly well planned and prepared. Our 'van is on the drive with exactly the same wheel-lock ..... clearly neither that nor the hitchlock are going to deter someone if that's what is on their shopping list.

Will be interested to see what Al-Ko say . . .

 

[SuperMike]

They even created a new category for that lock, “Sold Platinum”, I think.

 

[scousebird]

Sorry to hear that your caravan has been stolen. Nothing's sacred any more. Sad.

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[Feltwell]

I lost a twin axle that had a wheel clamp in each axle , and a hitch lock , and hardened chain on a steel 5 bar gate with welded down hinges . cris registered and etched, also with roof postcode , never seen again .

The worst part was they took all my old washing machines and copper tanks I had been collecting !!!!

Let me see - twin axle van and all the scrap metal went as well - hmmmm, which group could be suspects.......

 

[Geo]

Let me see - twin axle van and all the scrap metal went as well - hmmmm, which group could be suspects.......

Sounds like the Round Table or Masons to me

 

[Decaf]

For anyone that's interested, below is the response from AL-KO, its more than I had expected.


"Thank you for your email and I'm sorry to hear about your recent experience.
We appreciate all feedback, and we are always interested to hear about any 'attacks' on our products, particularly successful ones, so appreciate you getting in touch, and yes, please do sent though the photos if you have a chance.
We are sorry to hear that the thieves were successful despite your use of our AL-KO Hitch Lock and wheel lock. The information we obtain from insurance companies and the Police tells us that attempts on caravans normally last a short period of time, around 5-10 minutes. Whilst our locks do provide a substantial level of security, as with all security devices the primary function is that of a deterrent, and given sufficient time is not 100% infallible.
We do appreciate that this is of little consolation to you following your recent experience and can only assure you that all customer comments and industry feedback are closely monitored and if common issues emerge are acted upon accordingly.
We would always advise the use of as many security products as possible, to increase the time necessary to defeat the security measures. Secure storage is also recommended to prevent easy access to your caravan, and limit the time available for attacks.
I'm sorry I cannot be of more help but should you have any further comments or questions please don't hesitate to get in touch."

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[Feltwell]

Sounds like the Round Table or Masons to me

I think it's the WI. They've been putting funny stuff in their jam again.

 

[Feltwell]

For anyone that's interested, below is the response from AL-KO, its more than I had expected.
"

Good that they're interested. I must admit I was surprised that hitchlock could be jemmied off, having used one they seemed a pretty substantial bit of kit.

 

[Podney]

It would be funny if you hadn’t lost your lovely motorhome. What a load of twaddle! Typical Mr nice guy,I’ve been on the “keep the consumer happy course”. Try making something that works guys.

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[DBK]

Im sorry for the theft of your caravan. Have you sent a report and the photos to Sold Secure for comment?

Yes, I've emailed AL-Ko, though I don't expect that our's is the first time for this heating method.

Will be interested to see what Al-Ko say . . .

Nothing will resist an oxy-acetyline torch and the "Gold" standard from memory only means they will delay a determined attacker ten minutes - or it might be five minutes.

As already mentioned, if they want your vehicle they will take it. All you can hope is the insurance will cough up if they do pinch it having done what you can to deter them.

 

[Cat53]

That was a very determined theft. Sorry for the loss of your van.

 

[Yorick]

Sorry for your loss. What's wrong with these people? I can remember when we didn't have to lock our doors.

Folk have been stealing things for thousands of years. It's not a recent problem.

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[Mr B]

Let me see - twin axle van and all the scrap metal went as well - hmmmm, which group could be suspects.......