happy john
Member
Speaking with a client today involved in investigation we were having a chat about caravans and he filled me in on a few points I would like to share. Australia more so QLD and NSW in in the midst of a new form of criminal activity involving the theft and "Re Birthing" of vans and campers some upwards of 100k.
The thefts are normally occurring from vans parked in front yards backed in and facing the road. The towball lock is now next to useless. The crims are now using modified towbars and the vans safety chains to literally back up and drag the van away often at very high speed.
The act involves removing it from the spot regardless of the hitch lock and dragging it as far away to a quiet spot to remove the lock with a cordless angle grinder. Even larger vans up to 3 tonne are being targeted particularly with internal showers and toilets, some of these have turned up on remote properties for accommodation for temporary workers.
The advice at this stage is to use a wheel clamp of good quality the cheaper variety the lock is twisted off with a stilson wrench with an extension bar silently. If you have an existing hitch lock replace the tiny padlock with a much larger one utilising ball bearings to lock the shackle. The reason is they use a slide hammer muffled by a pillow to rip the little lock supplied apart.
At this stage what is being advised is don't rely upon the hitch lock despite the little padlock being un accessible to boltcutters, invest in a "quality" wheel clamp and if possible 12mm square link manganese alloy hardened chain through the wheel and around the springs locked with a good quality padlock with a protected shackle, this takes a lot of time to cut and is very noisy.
The only other thing is some of the camper trailers stolen with a treg hitch had a bike u lock through where the pin goes the mongrels spread it apart with a scissor jack, he also suggested turning the van around if possible so the front is not facing the road.
Hope this helps folk here it is spoken about often on the caravan forum I did post there a while ago with a limited knowledge when this first came to light, I will let you all know more, I wont see him for another 4 weeks it looks like the laws for vin plates will be changed to a more secure method to deter this.
John
.
The thefts are normally occurring from vans parked in front yards backed in and facing the road. The towball lock is now next to useless. The crims are now using modified towbars and the vans safety chains to literally back up and drag the van away often at very high speed.
The act involves removing it from the spot regardless of the hitch lock and dragging it as far away to a quiet spot to remove the lock with a cordless angle grinder. Even larger vans up to 3 tonne are being targeted particularly with internal showers and toilets, some of these have turned up on remote properties for accommodation for temporary workers.
The advice at this stage is to use a wheel clamp of good quality the cheaper variety the lock is twisted off with a stilson wrench with an extension bar silently. If you have an existing hitch lock replace the tiny padlock with a much larger one utilising ball bearings to lock the shackle. The reason is they use a slide hammer muffled by a pillow to rip the little lock supplied apart.
At this stage what is being advised is don't rely upon the hitch lock despite the little padlock being un accessible to boltcutters, invest in a "quality" wheel clamp and if possible 12mm square link manganese alloy hardened chain through the wheel and around the springs locked with a good quality padlock with a protected shackle, this takes a lot of time to cut and is very noisy.
The only other thing is some of the camper trailers stolen with a treg hitch had a bike u lock through where the pin goes the mongrels spread it apart with a scissor jack, he also suggested turning the van around if possible so the front is not facing the road.
Hope this helps folk here it is spoken about often on the caravan forum I did post there a while ago with a limited knowledge when this first came to light, I will let you all know more, I wont see him for another 4 weeks it looks like the laws for vin plates will be changed to a more secure method to deter this.
John
.