Police in Rhymney are appealing for information after the theft of two caravans from the Pontlottyn area which occurred overnight between Monday July 26th and Tuesday July 27th, 2010.
The caravans were stolen from GBR at Capital Valley Eco Park, which is a locked caravan storage unit.
The caravans are described as: a five berth Elddis Odyssey caravan, white in colour with a burgundy stripe which is valued at approximately £10,000. A number of items were inside the caravan including a television and personal items. The second caravan is an 06 model five berth Bailey Pageant Provence Caravan which is magnolia in colour.
Another caravan had £8000 worth of damage caused as the thieves attempted to break in, but were not successful.
If anyone has information about the thefts or the whereabouts of the caravans, please call Gwent Police on 01633 838111 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111
Police are issuing the following advice to caravan owners to ensure they do all they can to keep their caravans safe and secure:
- Immobilise your caravan even when you only stop briefly.
- Have a tracking device fitted so that the caravan can be traced if it is stolen. All caravans manufactured since 1997 have been electronically tagged.
- Have a reliable alarm fitted and switch it on whenever you leave your caravan, even if only for a few minutes.
- At home, always keep caravan keys in a safe place out of sight from windows and doors.
- Take valuables with you when you leave the caravan. If you can’t, lock them away in a cupboard.
- All caravans manufactured in the UK since 1992 have a 17-digit vehicle identification number (VIN) etched onto the vehicle chassis and windows. You could mark your VIN number with a security marker inside cupboards and other places to help you identify your caravan if it’s stolen.
- Most European manufactured caravans do not have a CRiS number on them. There is some evidence that some brands of European manufactured caravans are more at risk from theft.
- If you are concerned that you are being offered to buy a stolen caravan, steer clear. It’s best to go to reputable shops and dealers. Bargains often are too good to be true.
- Ask about built-in security when buying a new caravan.
- Look out for each other’s caravans on site and report anything suspicious to the site manager or the police.
- When your caravan is not in use, leave curtains and cupboard doors open – thieves can be put off by a caravan that is obviously empty.
