Motorhome theft; how do the numbers look?

[CustomBuild]

I’m wondering if all motorhomes are stolen from outside the owners home or do the majority go missing from paid storage facilities? How many are stolen from a campsite during the day, how many disappear from a supermarket car park or are taken from the side of the road at some random place.

Is the biggest risk by far when the MH is unattended during the night or might you set off on a trip and find yourself taking the train back home?

And is the EU any better or worse? What should you avoid doing if you really want to keep your vehicle and not have some low life take it for themselves?

 

[meanders]

The low life will take any opportunity. I don't think there are any statistics such as you seek, but I think I have seen reports on here of all of those with the exception that I do not recollect anyone losing one while pitched on a site. I know a few caravans have been taken when left for the day though.

You can only do so much to make your van less attractive to the next one, but if it's yours they want ......

 

[Brains]

One of the reasons certain makes and models 'disappear' is for spares and repairs.

Ford Transit based motorhomes and charity minibuses are particularly vulnerable, as the thieves know they will be older models, well maintained, and have very low milage.

They don't care that your £20,000 vehicle is stripped for £200 worth of parts.
They crush what they can't sell.
(A mate had a car stolen, all they wanted was the bonnet lid and the front bumper, Police recovered it, but it was a write off due to other damage)

I think thefts of more modern complete motorhomes for onward use would be fairly rare, as you have to go through the 'ringing' process, and unlike high value cars, there is no big demand in West Africa for motorhomes.

 

[Vanman]

As said above, I don't think you'll find definitive info like that. Having been on here for 7 or 8 years my gut feeling is that the majority are stolen from peoples houses. Putting false plates on them and driving them to a ferry seems to be a strong favorite, or hiding them for a few days to see if there's a tracker. For a while Fords were very popular as the front door locks were easy to break.