Rising thefts, difficulty bringing perpetrators to justice and advice for owners
More people than ever now own or are looking to own caravans, with over half a million caravans currently estimated to be in use in the UK. Past trends suggest that during tough economic times, people look towards caravanning and staycations as a way to continue enjoying well-earned holidays. Supply has struggled to keep up with demand over the last few years so we can expect the number of caravans to rise.
With so many new owners and the current strain on household finances it’s important that this significant investment is protected. A caravan is stolen every day on average in the UK, the vast majority of those are not recovered. While most owners are aware of the importance of insurance, that can’t remove the emotional stress of experiencing such a major theft or the replace the memories and sentimental value. Prevention is better than cure and we hope that by sharing this research we can help caravan owners better protect themselves against crime.
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Don't have time to read the full report? Here are the key points you need to know to keep your caravan safe.
Caravan theft is increasing
After seeing a dip during the first wave of COVID19 lockdowns, caravan theft has been rising. Thefts were 7% higher in 2022 vs 2021 and 25% up vs 2020.
Justice for Caravan owners
By far and away the most shocking statistic in our research is the low rate of justice for victims of caravan theft. Just 2% of reported thefts result in anyone being charged and less than 12% are recovered.
Not all regions saw an increase in thefts
The best decrease in thefts was in the East midlands while the south west saw the biggest increase.
Farms are the riskiest storage option
Storage location is a major factor in caravan theft. While those stored at the home of the owner or a friend are a little less likely to subject to a theft claim than those stored away from home at a caravan site or storage compound, there is a significantly higher risk when storing at a farm. This is likely due to the lack of formal security measures in place, making life easier for would-be thieves.
Owners can do more to protect their caravans
Basic devices are very common with hitchlocks used by 98% and Wheelclamps by 91% but far fewer owners opt for other measures such as Microtags (6%), Anti-Tamper devices (5%) or Smart Water (1%). Unlike motor vehicles, caravans are not legally required to be registered so these additional measures could help improve recovery of those that are unfortunately stolen.
Older customers take more precautions
Our research shows that as caravan owners get older they appear to get more security conscious, with an average caravanner in their seventies using more security measures than those under 30 and much more likely to install an alarm. 71% of over 70s have one compared to just 41% of under 30s.