Warning over sinister caravan trend after brazen $300,000 act caught on camera
Business owner Vlad, from Prime Edge Caravans in Victoria, said the brazen thieves made off with two new vehicles in the early hours of Monday morning at his manufacturing dealership in Epping in Melbourne's north. He explained that first, the alleged offenders "cut the bollards" at the entrance to the property, and then, about three hours later, returned for the caravans.
CCTV shows the thieves making off with one van initially, before allegedly returning to take a second. Vlad said they then returned a third time with a trailer and "stole all our materials".
"Lock your vans and make sure you have GPS tracking in every single one that's on the lot. Also, secure your factory or yard with extra protection," he warned in an interview with Yahoo News on Tuesday.
"GPS trackers are crucial — that way, the police have a chance of recovering anything stolen."
A clause in Vlad's insurance policy excludes coverage for theft from open-air storage, meaning vehicles kept outside are likely not covered.
As a result, the recent theft of his caravans is not eligible for an insurance payout. Vlad said the team immediately reported the crime to Victoria Police on Monday, who commenced an investigation. Yahoo News has contacted Victoria Police for an update on their investigation.
Vlad, who has been in business for nine years, said it's the first time he's ever had a caravan stolen. He now hopes the security footage, which contains audio, will lead to arrests.
According to RACV, data collected by the state's Crime Statistics Agency showed a steep rise in caravan theft last year. In the 12 months to June, 2024 in Victoria, there were reportedly 174 caravans stolen across the state, up almost 67 per cent since 2022.
"While vans may not seem as appealing an item to steal due to their size, the data is showing that thefts of these usually highly valuable assets are still occurring and, in fact, they are on the rise," RACV General Manager Motoring Jeff Ames said in October. "RACV recommends having caravan insurance in place to protect your van in case something were to happen".
Caravan thefts or attempted thefts have reached their highest level in 10 years in Victoria, RACV and the state's Neighbourhood Watch announced in October.
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Across the country, all states and territories except for the ACT saw a jump in the number of motor vehicle thefts last year, the Australian Bureau of Statistics reports. In August 2024, a caravan was allegedly taken with a Queensland family, including young children, still inside.
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