Came home today after some shopping, settled down to have a read of a Caravan Mag I had bought. Wife said "what are they doing back here" Eh! I said. She said that flat bed transit Van with the woman passenger and kid were parked outside 40 Minutes ago for five minutes. I got up and went to the window just as they were pulling away very slowly they didn't see me but they were haveing a good old look at my Caravan parked on the drive. The woman passenger was turning her head backwards fixed on the Caravan. I think she was checking to see if there was a hitchlock and Wheel clamp atached there is.
I had a litle think for all of 30 Seconds and decided it was going back to storage about 20 minutes drive away.
I have seasonal storage, but bring the Van home for the winter months so I can keep an check on it. Like it in storage during the summer months then any torags don't know when I am away.
Anyway if you are in the Levenmouth area of Fife Beware.
If you got the reg number phone the police and report it........even for intelligence purposes they will appreciate it! Glad you now have it out of the way. I sometimes wonder about keeping the van at home over winter but for £30 a month I think its best kepy out of sight at our storage site!
Something else that needs to be taken into consideration as well is if you have your caravan insured and declared on the policy that it is kept in a secure compound, then if your caravan does get stolen from outside your home the insurance could possibly refuse to pay out in the event of a claim. Annual insurance costs are usually around 10% more if it is not stored on a registered CaSSOA compound so it's important to let the insurance know it's if's kept part time outside your property and part time in storage for you own peace of mind.
Something else that needs to be taken into consideration as well is if you have your caravan insured and declared on the policy that it is kept in a secure compound, then if your caravan does get stolen from outside your home the insurance could possibly refuse to pay out in the event of a claim. Annual insurance costs are usually around 10% more if it is not stored on a registered CaSSOA compound so it's important to let the insurance know it's if's kept part time outside your property and part time in storage for you own peace of mind.
I was thinking exactly the same thing, Tango55. We are only allowed to keep ours at home for 48 hours.
Something else that needs to be taken into consideration as well is if you have your caravan insured and declared on the policy that it is kept in a secure compound, then if your caravan does get stolen from outside your home the insurance could possibly refuse to pay out in the event of a claim. Annual insurance costs are usually around 10% more if it is not stored on a registered CaSSOA compound so it's important to let the insurance know it's if's kept part time outside your property and part time in storage for you own peace of mind.Â
I was thinking exactly the same thing, Tango55. We are only allowed to keep ours at home for 48 hours.
I have informed my insurers that I stored it at home over the winter and at storage during the summer months. I have a letter from them confirming this arangement.
The Caravan club insurance don't mind where you store your van as long as you fit the agreed security devices, in our case a hitch lock and wheel clamp. I specifically asked this when taking out the policy last year and was informed I could keep it at our storage site or on the drive with no restrictions......worth I thought if anyone is looking to re-new and wants more flexability.
I had my van stolen from my house they managed to get about 20 yards and dropped it. There were 2 vehicles a transit type and escort type as they sped off torn a 10' gash in the side panel. I chased after them and caught up with them the larger van which was at the back was swerving to stop me overtaking so assumed that the other vehicle was the important one. We were on a fast dual carriageway and I drew level with them they were trying to hide their faces (male and female) they pulled off a slip road which curved around quite sharply and over the dual caaraigeway. I followed but they were going too quick for the curve hit the gutter hard and nearly rolled their car. They regained control and shot off and left my 4x4 for dust - In a way I am glad I didnt catch them because of what I might have done. I was sooo annoyed. The damage to my van was about 3000 - it was only a month old. Alarmed, including steadies, steady locks, wheel clamp and hitch lock. There was a caravan burnt out about a mile away - I think mine was their replacement they are vermine and should be dealt with accordingly. I am glad you made the right decision. In the words of Shaw Taylor "keep em peeled"
------------- A barman is just a pharmacist
with a limited inventory
Chalkie56,
Sorry you had your Van Stolen, I am just grateful I was at home and saw then eyeing my Van up. Like the title says possible caravan thieves, maybe they were just admiring it I think not she (The Woman)was taking too much interest in it as they were slowly pulling away. Anyway it is safely back in storage now.
I also had the same security, Alarm, Wheel Clamp, Hitch lock and corner steady locks. But I know these are only deterants and will not stop them if they realy want it.
Vermin is too mild for these people. I have a better name for them but won't use it in an open forum. They steal from people who have worked hard all of thier lives to be able to afford caravans & Motorhomes etc,they then think they can just come along and help them selves to them.
sometimes im glad mines is a wee old van ,not so appealing to them ,if they want to nick something they would go for something a bit more glam ,glad your van didnt get stolen ,but wonder if it would have still be there if you had been out all day
Security devices are like putty - we had our caravan stolen and the Alko hitch was levered off breaking the casting on the hitch, and the Bulldog (the heaviest duty, top of the range, most 'secure') wheel clamp had one of the 'arms' bent back and was abandoned. They took the van across farmland and cut down boundary fences to get it out, bypassing two locked gates and cctv cameras.
If they want it, they'll get it.
Amazingly our caravan was found and because of all the damage written off (just going through the process now), but it has made us think very hard about where to keep a caravan, or even have one at all. We are now in a silver Cassoa site, with trees behind us so they can't get in from behind, the site is surrounded by buildings for the most part, owner lives in a bungalow in the compound and it's manned by an employee during the day. It's the best we can hope for locally, but it's at a cost. The thieves caused over £5,500 worth of damage, including what they stole from inside, not the mention the upset.
You were lucky to see what you did Kanno and let's hope your van stays safe. Even parking overnight at your house before you venture on your holidays will be questionable now.
"She said that flat bed transit Van with the woman passenger and kid were parked outside 40 Minutes ago for five minutes. I got up and went to the window just as they were pulling away very slowly they didn't see me but they were haveing a good old look at my Caravan parked on the drive."
"Anyway it is safely back in storage now."
This story very nicely paints a picture I am sure we can all imagine. Made me think of Butch and Sundance and how Mr E. H. Harriman improved security after various train robberies. I like to think that they came back late at night with their low loader and just looked at the empty drive and said "What did you have to go and do that for Woodcock"
Phil
------------- If you're not on a fell your wasting your feet and for 2014 it's.......Feb Castleton Mar North Yors Moors; Apr Sutton on Sea; May Thirsk; Jun Clapham/Riverside (Lakes); July Wharfedale; August Crakehall; Sept Knaresborough; Oct Wirral Park/Clitheroe
Something else that needs to be taken into consideration as well is if you have your caravan insured and declared on the policy that it is kept in a secure compound, then if your caravan does get stolen from outside your home the insurance could possibly refuse to pay out in the event of a claim. Annual insurance costs are usually around 10% more if it is not stored on a registered CaSSOA compound so it's important to let the insurance know it's if's kept part time outside your property and part time in storage for you own peace of mind.
My storage site recently got Cassoa silver status and put the prices up saying you'd get discount from your insurance companies, i phoned the caravan club who said you only got a discount if it was a gold site and the discount was 5%, so made no difference really.
Quote: Originally posted by dazzer252 on 12/2/2012
The Caravan club insurance don't mind where you store your van as long as you fit the agreed security devices, in our case a hitch lock and wheel clamp. I specifically asked this when taking out the policy last year and was informed I could keep it at our storage site or on the drive with no restrictions......worth I thought if anyone is looking to re-new and wants more flexability.
That's exactly why we insured ours with the caravan club. It was such a pain wading through the "storage conditions" with many companies, the CC seemed much more straightforward and the price was competitive so we've stuck with them.
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Topic: Possible Caravan Thieves
I think not she (The Woman)was taking too much interest in it as they were slowly pulling away. Anyway it is safely back in storage now.
