Campervan and caravan owners are being warned over a potential rise in motorhome and caravan thefts this autumn and winter.
Stolen vehicle recovery firm, Tracker, is encouraging owners to take precautions that will make life harder for would-be thieves.
By the end of August this year, the company had seen a 29 per cent year-on-year increase in caravan and motorhome theft.
In 2020, Tracker recovered over one million pounds worth of stolen caravans and motorhomes.
The figure is expected to be even higher this year.
Some of the most common precautions taken are to secure the caravan in a secure facility or installing an alarm system.
Many also choose to add hitch locks and wheel clamps as well as deadlocks on the doors.
Clive Wain, head of police liaison at Tracker, said: “Demand for quality leisure vehicles remains at an all-time high, with not just legitimate retailers looking to cash in.
“Criminal gangs are taking advantage of high demand and the resulting higher prices, stealing motorhomes and caravans to serve the burgeoning market.
“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.”
Tracker also advises those with a leisure vehicle to mark it and fit approved deterrents, including hitch locks, wheel clamps and deadlocks.
