Stolen from drive – what happened next?

[Trevor Wbm]

Yes you've got to realise that the police is short of officers and are doing their best driving around the motorways or sitting in their cars on the side of the roads trying to catch the real criminals, the motorists.

Sitting at the side of the road. With ANPR connected to the Police National Computer, where the theft of the vehicle is recorded. Feels like a good place to be if the theft is reported promptly.

Anyone who gets done for a driving offence has volunteered themselves for it, it's not like the rules are secret.

 

[MichaelT]

One dealer says they were targeted by thieves who took 3 new unregistered motorhomes away on a large low loader. Apparently they were booked on a ferry a few hours later, and the vans were out of the country before the theft was discovered.

Whats the point of taking them out of the UK? Presumably all RHD so no market anywhere in Europe unless it was to Ireland?

 

[martin2603]

A Dealer in Brighton recently had three Motorhomes stolen from his site . They were all recovered within a matter of hours, and yes , they all had trackers fitted. I recently changed my leisure batteries and whilst doing the change I had a call from Sargent to check if all was in order.
I know the subscription is another annual cost but if you can afford it , you get very good value for money. You can check it’s location anytime on the phone app.

 

[DelMar]

If these stolen motorhomes are being taken into Europe on a transporter, they would stand out like a sore thumb. We drive on the left, therefore they are right hand drive vehicles. All of Europe drive on the right. That should get customs interest. I also thought it takes quite a while to process exports. How on earth then, could the motorhome be abroad before the theft is discovered.

As for insurance companies penalising the the person who is the loser, they should also be investigated. We cannot put any vehicle on the road without insuring it, so really, they can rob you legally, although you have taken all the security preventative measures you can.

If you are 80 as well and still very competent, you still get written off as if this 80 is some magical number of incompetence. I know a few drivers much younger that I would hide the vehicle keys from.

 

[westhamman]

A boat stolen from the Earl's Court boat show(some years ago obviously) the thieves drove in, hitched it up and away they went, it was found/stopped a few hours later entering Southampton.. Professional thieves will have cars etc abroad before you get out of bed in the morning. If stopped by police, its mot reported stolen.
I was told, not sure if it's TRUE, that after the PNC came into use,less people were arrested for theft of vehicles, officers became lazy not reported stolen then not stolen. Before the PNC the driver would be questioned, how many miles,what's in the boot,where was vehicle taxed all sorts of questions a thief wouldn't or probably wouldn't know.

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[jongood]

Agree they must be going somewhere and there must be a market for them. The reason UK Motorhome insurance was always relatively cheaper than mainland Europe was because RHD attracted a lot less of an attraction to theft as the market to reset much smaller. Not sure if RHD would be very appealing and certainly a challenge to register in Europe...Australia, New Zealand perhaps...who knows. They may even be stripped just for spares.

If they re going on a ferry then they ve got to be going to Ireland. Where else could anyone realistically sell a RHD Motorhome. I wonder if the problem is that everyone actually knows whose doing it but nobody fancies tackling it for fear of being called ( whatever we re allowed to call them currently)ist.

 

[Otter Spotter]

Is it not an easy task for vin numbers to be checked on vehicles as they enter the ports before they board a ferry. Most Sevel vans have the vin number under the windscreen, so if the vehicle has been reported stolen, then in theory they could be recovered. Nit sure about other makes.
This could act as a deterrent to the thieves who would realise they could be locked up in the motor.

 

[Spriddler]

Some years ago I had to inspect a classic car for the DVLA which was suspected of having been cloned.
It appeared to have a legit VIN plate but what the fraudster didn't know was that the manufacturer also stamped the original VIN number into the body 'hidden' under the voltage regulator which confirmed that the vehicle had been cloned.

 

[gus-lopez]

they will sell them on to their mates who come back across the water to

This is why the Common Area Agreement (CAA) should have been rescinded 40+years zho and should be done now along with removal of all non resident Irish.

 

[Realist]

Bottom line is in today’s society we as loyal, hard working people who look after our property from scum I’m of the opinion that it’s our responsibility to secure our property.

I’m a strong believer in prevention rather than hoping a tracker will work or not.

If it takes you an age to get in your van and age to start it and an age to move it it’s worth putting in place every single thing you can from posts, locks, chains, wheel clamps, door locks and moving the port to another location and install a dummy.

The more hassle you put in place visually the less likely your property will be targeted and stolen, it’s not worth their while or hassle.

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[benellioldman1]

N
id they say which ferry’s they are going on? Is it Ireland or Europe. It used to be that travellers would Nick caravans and they would be across the see to Ireland in short order.

I've no idea. I assumed Europe, but as you suggest, Ireland being rhd, makes more sense. If you call that sense. I've been checking UK used van sales sites, perhaps I should look at the Irish sites. As long as that isn't racist!

Yes regarding upsetting a few on here with mentioning certain nationalities I have been a victim of that last year when trying to warn other folk about would be thieves operating in Europe. It is a mad world

 

[Tonks]

Yes you've got to realise that the police is short of officers and are doing their best driving around the motorways or sitting in their cars on the side of the roads trying to catch the real criminals, the motorists.

Because catching motorists who are breaking the law so very often also results in much bigger issues. I am perfectly happy with the Police stopping anyone who may be driving while disqualified, under the influence, unlicensed, untaxed, un-MOT'd, or if they're speeding or driving dangerously in other ways. Many of those stops lead to other arrests too, for drugs offences at all levels including deadly 'county lines' operations, burglaries or 'going equipped' etc etc. It amazes me frequently that so many crooks drive unlicensed or uninsured, in vehicles which aren't in roadworthy conditions, thus drawing attention to themselves. Why?!

Many motorists ARE 'real criminals'. I'm licensed and don't drive under the influence or stupidly, and my vehicles are properly insured, maintained, registered, taxed etc. Why should I then support those who do none of those things?

If the Police were properly funded and supported, had safe numbers (ie. NOT going out single crewed as they frequently do), didn't have to deal with mental health issues which used to be properly resourced elsewhere, that would be a start in terms of enabling them to do a more thorough job than they're currently able to do.
(From someone with family who've served in the Police.)

 

[gus-lopez]

Because catching motorists who are breaking the law so very often also results in much bigger issues. I am perfectly happy with the Police stopping anyone who may be driving while disqualified, under the influence, unlicensed, untaxed, un-MOT'd, or if they're speeding or driving dangerously in other ways. Many of those stops lead to other arrests too, for drugs offences at all levels including deadly 'county lines' operations, burglaries or 'going equipped' etc etc. It amazes me frequently that so many crooks drive unlicensed or uninsured, in vehicles which aren't in roadworthy conditions, thus drawing attention to themselves. Why?!

Many motorists ARE 'real criminals'. I'm licensed and don't drive under the influence or stupidly, and my vehicles are properly insured, maintained, registered, taxed etc. Why should I then support those who do none of those things?

If the Police were properly funded and supported, had safe numbers (ie. NOT going out single crewed as they frequently do), didn't have to deal with mental health issues which used to be properly resourced elsewhere, that would be a start in terms of enabling them to do a more thorough job than they're currently able to do.
(From someone with family who've served in the Police.)

I agree as long as they do some thing about it on the spot.like Execution. Passing it to CPS (Complete Pisstaking Scum) is just passing the buck .

 

[Dilbert]

just to jump in on this thread I had my Mazda bongo stolen from the road outside my flat and insurance paid out about a month later at the price i paid 13 months earlier . as an aside I phoned 101 when it was stolen and had to report it online then got an email with a crime number that said the van reg would be entered into the ANPR system but would not actively searched for.anyway the cheque has been burning a hole in my pocket since so we’ve put a deposit on a bigger van. i thought the theft would increase my insurance premium but thankfully not.

 

[Dorwyn]

thought the theft would increase my insurance premium but thankfully not.

Well not in my case, they're talking about 2 or 3 times increase!! After more than 30 years no claims.

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[Coolcats]

Well not in my case, they're talking about 2 or 3 times increase!! After more than 30 years no claims.

Dorwyn, I have posted on hear before but: We had a burglary early hours of Boxing Morning 2019 between 03:34 and 04:45

We had three sets of keys taken and two of the vehicles stollen. I believe the MoHo was not taken due to having a Vanbits Strike back with external flashing lights (when armed) so the easy less risky for the thieves were 1) a VW Transporter, 2) A VW Golf. Once reported to the police they were with us within 20 mins including DI plus a Scene of crimes officer who dusted for prints.....and this was Boxing Day so 100% satisfied with the response.

I suspect as the vehicles were not picked up on ANPR they had false plates, the insurance investigators made me feel like the criminal they checked everything including receipts for purchasing the vehicles where the funds came from and when I said I normally reverse park on the drive they checked Google street view to double check.

The companies did pay out however, unless an insurance company can get all their money back they have paid out they mark your file as 'at fault' even though it is not your fault. This means higher premiums in order to try and get their losses covered.

The MoHo went straight to safe storage as keys had been stollen, the fiat professional dealer opened up specially to accept the vehicle the next day (My neighbours parked their cars within an inch of the Moho to block it in) All locks and security was changed and Vanbitz organised new Security for the strike back.

The MoHo insurance went up from £400 to over £3K I have managed to get it down to around £1K my Transporter is similar but this year I will insure for a month and then re-insure a month later as the theft will be over three years.

My Wife car was crashed and the driver was arrested but still no arrests for the original theft and this is one place Insurance companies should chase down and get thier money back as that would deter thieves and those who may use stollen vehicles.

You are not alone in having vehicles stollen and the financial impact it has on innocent members of the public. It had cost thousands in upgrading security on the house including new doors roller garage door Camera's etc

On your next MoHo use all physical security you can think of from OBD Safe Stop Lock Clutch Claw tracker Vanbits security and wheel locks, it won't stop a thief but it will make yours less desirable.

 

[Skyway]

Shoot them!

In the legs then hang them

 

[Coolcats]

In the legs then hang them

Before all of that make them pay the victims financial compensation. In addition to the increase insurance what people lay out in additional security plus the cost of obtaining replacement vehicles, thier time for sorting the mess of any crime and for the stress caused. After that don’t shoot or hang but place them in purgatory.

 

[CazPaul]

Bottom line is in today’s society we as loyal, hard working people who look after our property from scum I’m of the opinion that it’s our responsibility to secure our property.

I’m a strong believer in prevention rather than hoping a tracker will work or not.

If it takes you an age to get in your van and age to start it and an age to move it it’s worth putting in place every single thing you can from posts, locks, chains, wheel clamps, door locks and moving the port to another location and install a dummy.

The more hassle you put in place visually the less likely your property will be targeted and stolen, it’s not worth their while or hassle.

And in the process take the whole pleasure of owning a Motorhome away, I work full time and like to take the van out for a run or go away in it at short notice.

Im not messing about spending ages just getting the van in a driveable state it takes the whole pleasure away.

I know someone who does exactly that it’s an obsession with him, security posts, chains, alarms, tracker, take stuff off the engine, clamps, cctv, constantly looking outside etc etc, the full works. What a chore, his missus has told him to sell it and they’ll have different holidays.

 

[Reallyretired]

In these days of theft with the keys there is another advantage of secure storage. My motorhome and its keys are 20 miles apart.

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[Shrimp]

Lack of keys for a vehicle, that the scroats want, are not an obstacle anymore, they have a wealth of tech nowadays to bypass anything!

 

[MisterB]

ferry operators could play their part by checking windscreen vin numbers on all motorhomes (or vehicles over a certain cost) - the delays wouldnt be an issue as the checks could be carried out on board, whilst en route. if insurance companies offered rewards for each recovered vehicle, it might make the process worthwhile - as it is insurance companies continue to profit from stolen vehicles by being able to increase prices due to the numbers/types being stolen - doesnt that seem a bit perverse, almost a corrupt practice?

 

[Trevor Wbm]

I agree as long as they do some thing about it on the spot.like Execution. Passing it to CPS (Complete Pisstaking Scum) is just passing the buck .

Erm, passing it to CPS is how the system works. It's their decision to prosecute, not the police - it's been like that since 2010.

Ironically the police are often not fans of the CPS either, as they see them as obstructive when they won't take people to court.

 

[joe and sue]

what about making use of the "plastic police" trafffic officers in their big 4 x 4's to look out for reported stolen vehicles, all they seem to do is drive around our main roads / motorways looking important!!

 

[MichaelT]

ferry operators could play their part by checking windscreen vin numbers on all motorhomes (or vehicles over a certain cost) - the delays wouldnt be an issue as the checks could be carried out on board, whilst en route. if insurance companies offered rewards for each recovered vehicle, it might make the process worthwhile - as it is insurance companies continue to profit from stolen vehicles by being able to increase prices due to the numbers/types being stolen - doesnt that seem a bit perverse, almost a corrupt practice?

Really are you seriously expecting P&O to check 600 VIN numbers against the DVLA records in an hour or Eurotunnel in 30 minutes?

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[MisterB]

Really are you seriously expecting P&O to check 600 VIN numbers against the DVLA records in an hour or Eurotunnel in 30 minutes?

Do ferries carry 600 motorhomes at a time then? How long would it take Eurotunnel staff to check a windscreen during the time they either stop you to check your gas is off or when your in the 'waiting areas' prior to being called or prior to boarding.
Where there is a real desire to carry out proper checks they will. I'm sure a scanning device could do the job quick enough. They are used on bar codes in supermarkets easy enough as are QR codes? Why don't vehicles have QR codes on their windscreens for instance?
Replacement screens could have their QR code registered against the original vin number.
It's easy to identify issues and not solutions to a problem that haunts us all sometimes......

 

[MichaelT]

Do ferries carry 600 motorhomes at a time then? How long would it take Eurotunnel staff to check a windscreen during the time they either stop you to check your gas is off or when your in the 'waiting areas' prior to being called or prior to boarding.
Where there is a real desire to carry out proper checks they will. I'm sure a scanning device could do the job quick enough. They are used on bar codes in supermarkets easy enough as are QR codes? Why don't vehicles have QR codes on their windscreens for instance?
Replacement screens could have their QR code registered against the original vin number.
It's easy to identify issues and not solutions to a problem that haunts us all sometimes......

Ah so you think its just motorhome that get nicked do you? Also why should ferries do this, surely a police job?

 

[Dutch 68]

If you consider the price of the average MH then I think it would be worth it to fit 3 trackers, they might find one, but do they carry on the search?

 

[MisterB]

Ah so you think its just motorhome that get nicked do you? Also why should ferries do this, surely a police job?

In the spirit of Monty Python, is this a five minute argument or a ten minute argument ....? You seem to have read my post but ignored it's content especially the part where I said - ' if insurance companies offered a reward it might make the process worthwhile', I also suggested they might want to consider it for other high cost vehicles - so at what point did think that 'its just motorhomes that get nicked '
Policing in the UK is not only by consent, it is also informed. Informed by those affected and those not affected by particular crimes.
Rewards are offered lots of times for information leading to a conviction, there are even TV programmes appealing for witnesses to crimes. You may not be aware, but lots of crimes are solved by people offering information on what they observed .....

My suggestion was for Insurance Companies to play a bigger part in retrieving and returning stolen motorhomes instead of pure reliance on an overstretched police force and their ability to control their own losses by increasing costs to us all, whilst those affected personally by the loss are financially disadvantaged, often through no fault of their own.
Insurance companies spend thousands on investigating claims rather than viewing it 'as, surely a police job'.
VI Numbers are coded not only to identify the spec of a vehicle and to identify the correct replacement parts, they also serve to check the vehicles authentication, my suggestion was to use this to try to identify stolen vehicles while they are stationary and I will continue to try to find and suggest solutions to issues instead of leaving it to someone else, but it's only my opinion of course that insurance companies could and should do more to save us all money in the long term.
Best wishes

 

[MichaelT]

In the spirit of Monty Python, is this a five minute argument or a ten minute argument ....? You seem to have read my post but ignored it's content especially the part where I said - ' if insurance companies offered a reward it might make the process worthwhile', I also suggested they might want to consider it for other high cost vehicles - so at what point did think that 'its just motorhomes that get nicked '
Policing in the UK is not only by consent, it is also informed. Informed by those affected and those not affected by particular crimes.
Rewards are offered lots of times for information leading to a conviction, there are even TV programmes appealing for witnesses to crimes. You may not be aware, but lots of crimes are solved by people offering information on what they observed .....

My suggestion was for Insurance Companies to play a bigger part in retrieving and returning stolen motorhomes instead of pure reliance on an overstretched police force and their ability to control their own losses by increasing costs to us all, whilst those affected personally by the loss are financially disadvantaged, often through no fault of their own.
Insurance companies spend thousands on investigating claims rather than viewing it 'as, surely a police job'.
VI Numbers are coded not only to identify the spec of a vehicle and to identify the correct replacement parts, they also serve to check the vehicles authentication, my suggestion was to use this to try to identify stolen vehicles while they are stationary and I will continue to try to find and suggest solutions to issues instead of leaving it to someone else, but it's only my opinion of course that insurance companies could and should do more to save us all money in the long term.
Best wishes

Full half hour please

How would you check VIN of A class motorhome as they are not in windscreen like most vehicles?

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