The sale of stolen caravans on websites such as eBay and Gumtree have amounted to £250,000 in three years.
(1888PressRelease) November 23, 2013 - Worrying new figures from the Caravan Theft Alerts scheme show that £250,000 worth of stolen caravans have been identified as being for sale online in the last three years, via websites such as Gumtree and eBay.
The scheme relies on members of the public to report their stolen caravans or sightings of vehicles that they suspect may be stolen, with the police, the public and the industry coming together to fight caravan theft and resale.
With research showing that 8% of all caravans stolen across the UK end up for sale online, the important of the Caravan Theft Alerts scheme cannot be underestimated. While it is Cambridgeshire, Thames Valley and Hertfordshire police that report the highest volumes of stolen caravans being listed on eBay, this is a crime that occurs throughout the UK.
Caravan enthusiasts are "buying" these stolen caravans online, unaware that they are not the genuine owners. According to research from Caravan Theft Alerts, the online sale of stolen caravans has cost the unsuspecting buyers a total of £250,000 in the last three years.
Stowford Caravan Centre, one of the South West's largest caravan retailers and camping site, is understandably concerned about the prevalence of caravan theft and resale. "When buying a caravan online, it is important to make sure you do your research", says a company spokesperson. "If a deal seems too good to be true, then it probably is: make sure you view a caravan in person before committing to buy. Make sure you are able to see the receipts and paperwork to ensure that you are speaking to the genuine owner, and do a CRiS check to ensure that the caravan has not been reported as stolen, that the owner's details match and that there are no outstanding finance issues or insurance write offs against the vehicle."
While buying a caravan online may seem like the cheapest and easiest option, potential buyers should be aware of the extent of stolen caravan scams in the market. When searching for a caravan to purchase - whether new or pre-owned - the safest option is always to go to a reputable dealer such as the Stowford Caravan Centre.
"We have won two Owner Satisfaction Awards from Practical Caravan in 2013", says a company spokesperson, "and have a number of glowing testimonials from our customers. Our aim is to make sure that caravan buyers have peace of mind with their purchase - and to show that not every pre-owned caravan sale should be tainted by doubt."
The sale of stolen caravans on websites such as eBay and Gumtree have amounted to £250,000 in three years. 
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