With holidaymakers continuing to face uncertainty over changing restrictions regarding international travel, the UK’s staycation boom is set to remain this autumn. Over the summer months, online motor retailers and physical auction houses reported a surge in sales of used caravans and motorhomes with spectacular values paid, prompting stolen vehicle recovery (SVR) expert, Tracker, to join police forces nationwide in warning new owners to protect their assets as autumn approaches.
“Demand for quality leisure vehicles remains at an all-time high, with not just legitimate retailers looking to cash in,” Clive Wain, Head of Police Liaison at Tracker commented. “Criminal gangs are taking advantage of high demand and the resulting higher prices, stealing motorhomes and caravans to serve the burgeoning market. In 2020, Tracker recovered over one million pounds worth of stolen caravans and motorhomes, and this figure is set to be even higher this year. By the end of August this year, we have already seen a 29% year-on-year increase in caravan and motorhome theft.”
There are many physical deterrents owners can employ, including secure storage facilities, alarm systems, hitch locks, wheel clamps and deadlocks on doors, all of which make life more difficult for thieves. However, experienced and determined criminals will get past these and can still steal a caravan or motorhome very quickly. Once the caravan or motorhome is taken, it is unlikely the police will be able to find and recover it unless it has a Tracker device fitted.
Clive Wain continued, “We have seen too many cases where criminals have been able to quickly cut through barriers, locks and other physical deterrents, taking just seconds to steal valuable vehicles parked on driveways. And it’s not just caravans and motorhomes parked at home that thieves are targeting. Secure, premium storage facilities that boast top of the range security measures are increasingly being targeted. Criminals are determined, especially when the cash rewards are high.
“Getting away for a break in your own motorhome or caravan at any time of the year is a fantastic experience and invaluable for families, couples and individuals. To have that opportunity taken away by a thief is absolutely heart-breaking, especially as the purchase would have been such a huge investment for most. First time and experienced leisure vehicle owners alike must take steps to protect their vehicle and their holiday dreams, including fitting a Tracker device to give them the best possible chance of being reunited with their caravan or motorhome if it is targeted by thieves.”
Tracker is the only SVR provider that works with the UK’s police forces to assist in recovering stolen vehicles. Its solutions work like an electronic homing device. A covert transmitter is hidden in one of several dozen places around the vehicle. Its unique combination of VHF with GPS/GSM technology makes its units resistant to GPS/GSM jamming and enables the police to pinpoint a stolen vehicle if it is hidden in an underground car park, container or lock-up. This makes it particularly valuable for detecting stolen caravans or motorhomes hidden in containers at major UK seaports, before heading to foreign shores.
The Tracker Mesh network is also instrumental in locating stolen vehicles. When a vehicle fitted with a Tracker unit passes any Tracker equipped vehicle that has been reported stolen, the unique Mesh Network listens and automatically sends a silent signal to Tracker’s Head Quarters, providing the location of the stolen asset.
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